Hone Harawira
How satirists, and the common worker, will miss the great firebrand of Māoridom. Yes, his fatal decision to go full Dotcom proved his undoing, but it’s not his loss alone. Hone had a way of provoking people that meant his politics, for better or worse, stuck in people’s minds. Revolutionary, thug, puppet, lone wolf — Parliament is quieter without his voice.
Cam Calder
Probably best known for being the former dentist-cum-doctor who knocked out one of his eyes with a champagne cork. That’s right, National had a one-eyed dentist, who liked to drink, in Parliament for six years, and not a scandal to be had! Keen on both environmental and prostate issues, he would have been a satirist’s dream if only he’d screwed up!
Clayton Cosgrove and Moana Mackey
Moana Mackey introduced many of us to the term ‘sh**bag’ as a verb, and Clayton Cosgrove was a speaker who wouldn’t shy away from using it. Cosgrove and his eyebrows are ‘old school’ or ‘outdated’ depending on your view. He was passionate about Christchurch, but reckless with his language. Mackey, at 40, will no doubt return, and conceivably over Anne Tolley’s dead body. It’s an East Coast thing.
Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia
‘The end of an era’. It wasn’t just that they formed the Māori Party, it was how it was formed, against who, and what it was in response to. They’ve been a fading force over the last term, though Tariana could still ‘Hulk up’ against tobacco. They’ll remain in the background to guide fresher faces #attheendoftheday.
And welcomes…
Marama Fox
A former teacher and adviser to the Ministry of Education, it’s Fox’s personality that will make her stand out (apart from a kick-ass last name for politics). Think young Tariana, with Hekia’s smirk and Hone’s body language. Could be amazing, possibly hilarious, or just incredibly annoying.
Chris Bishop and Todd Barclay
Anyone who’s ever debated with Chris Bishop will tell you he comes to play, and play hard, as evidence by taking Trevor ‘Don’t call me Moa’ Mallard to the brink. Todd Barclay looks like Tim Southee’s kid brother. Both have worked for big tobacco and, perhaps surprisingly, don’t shy away from that. In the post-TPPA government, their particular set of skills will be in demand.
Peeni Henare and Jenny Salesa
Labour are basically the Autobots after Optimus Prime (Red Robotic Truck) gets killed — still wondering who will take up the matrix of leadership. At least their Māori/PI members can cheer. Henare has politics in the blood. It’s National blood, but 24/7, so who cares? Salesa’s a former lawyer, who replaces Ross Robertson. She’s young, intelligent and passionate, and it will be interesting to see what responsibilities Labour gives her.
James Shaw
Wellington Central is now covered by three MPs, which also happens to represent accurately how the capital party vote split. Also ‘Foster-Bell, Robertson and Shaw’ sounds like a high-end legal firm or an amazing folk band — props to the first charity that gets these three to be the latter.