December 15, 2024 11:00am by David Farrar

Audrey rates the new Nats

Audrey Young gives ratings for the new National MPs elected in 2023. They are:

  • A – James Meager (Rangitata), Katie Simon (Napier), Tom Rutherford (Bay of Plenty)
  • B – Cameron Brewer (Upper Harbour), Grant McCallum (Northland), Catherine Wedd (Tukituki)
  • C – Miles Anderson (Waitaki), Carl Bates (Whanganui), Mike Butterick (Wairarapa), Hamish Campbell (Ilam), Carlos Cheung (Mt Roskill), Tim Costley (Otaki), Greg Fleming (Maungakiekie), Ryan Hamilton (Hamilton East), Dana Kirkpatrick (East Coast), Nancy Lu (List), Rima Nakhle (Takanini), Suze Redmayne (Rangitikei), Vanessa Weenik (Banks Peninsula)
  • D – David MacLeod (New Plymouth)

These are of course Audrey’s ratings, not mine.

New MPs who have won electorate seats are encouraged in their first term to focus on their seat. If they lose their seat, then it won’t matter if they were a regular speaker in the House. So it isn’t surprising that many new MPs are only a C – it may just mean they are focused in being a great electorate MP.

It will be interesting in 2026 to see how many retain their seats. Only one National MP has a majority of less than 1,000 and a further four under 2,000.

However boundary changes are likely to be significant and affect many seats, so that could well be the biggest factor – plus of course who stands against them.