Ministerial stats H1 2012

On the same basis as opposition stats, I’ve done stats for the 29 Ministers we had in full or part in the first half of 2012.

These are not really performance stats, because the number of releases you do and stories that mention you is mainly dependent on their portfolios. And the number of written PQs they have to answer is about how much they get targeted by the opposition.

So really these are more about profile. As always, they are quantitative and qualitative. As an example the third most mentioned Minister has been Hekia Parata, but of course that wasn’t exactly positive publicity.

The Minister who put out the most press releases was in fact Tariana Turia. The PM was 2nd and Pita Sharples third. So Maori Party Ministers trying hard to be in the news.  Tony Ryall was 4th and Bill English 5th.

John Banks is the Minister who has done the least number of releases, followed by Nick Smith (because he was only a Minister for half the time period).

In terms of media stories, no surprise that John Key is king with a staggering 2,720 stories in six months. Next back was Gerry Brownlee, Hekia Parata, Bill English and Judith Collins.  All front benchers.

The Minister who has been asked the most written parliamentary questions is Hekia Parata, followed by Steven Joyce, Jonathan Coleman, Gerry Brownlee and John Key.

On the weighted averaged, the highest profile and busiest Minister is no surprise John Key, followed by Gerry Brownlee, Hekia Parata, Bill English and Judith Collins.

Now as I said, sometimes it can be a good thing not to be in the media – especially if you have uncontroversial portfolios.