WAATEA NEWS COLUMN: 10 best Politicians 2025
Barbara Edmonds – Labour Party Finance Spokesperson
She has grown in confidence and real mastery of her role as Finance Spokesperson. On multiple occasions this year she has truly challenged Nicola Willis in the House and many time has gotten the better of the Finance Minister. Her mana as a working class mum of 8 means she has the authority to really make a difference in politics. She is a crucial and shrewd MP to watch.
Arena Williams – Labour Party Manurewa MP
I believe Arena is a future leader to watch inside the Labour Party. Her enormous talent in the House has created a true respect across Party lines and her charisma and likability is Jacinda like levels. One of the best MPs this year.
Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke – Maori Party MP
Her incredible Haka was watched by over a Billion people, she has become a symbol of resistance in a way few Politicians can ever achieve. She is more than an MP, she is an icon which for the youngest MP in Parliament is remarkable.
Chris Penk – National Party Minister
One of the most liked National Party Cabinet Minister’s, his wit and practicality have made him the best performing National Party MP in the house. His changes to the way people can buy building materials is probably one of the few successes that National can actually hold up as an achievement. It’s genuinely surprising with all that talk of leadership change in National that Penk’s name wasn’t mentioned because he has far more talent in his little finger than most National MPs have in their entire bodies!
Teanau Tuiono – Green Party MP
His leadership and voice on almost every issue marks him out as one of the Greens greatest intellectuals and powerhouses. His experience, his easy manner and his capacity to explain complex issues in language that every day voters can understand is one of the Green’s greatest assets.
Chlöe Swarbrick – Green Party Co-leader
She is one of the few politicians who has the capacity to punch back at David Seymour in her weekly Herald Now interviews. Her passion, wisdom and values are what will bring the Greens double digit support come the election.
Steve Able – Green Party MP
Former Greenpeace activist turned Green politician, Steve has brought a real understanding of how the agricultural industry needs to adapt to the realities of climate change from an anchored belief of the Treaty first and always. He will make an incredible Cabinet Minister.
Hūhana Lyndon – Green Party MP
One of the most liked Politicians on the Left, her intelligence, her dedication to Māoridom and her appearance at every single important event makes Hūhana a unique Politician who draws her strength directly from the communities she represents.
Tamatha Paul – Green Party Wellington Central MP
One of the real pillars of righteousness inside the Greens, her activism against Police, which was attacked earlier in the year, has been all proven by the McSkimming’s scandal.
Cushla Tangaere-Manuel – Labour MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti
Has built an impressive body of work in a very short time and has quickly become one of Labour’s most important voices. Expect her in Cabinet if Labour are privileged to win the next election.
I’ve been impressed by Barbara Edmonds. It’s obvious she gets under Willis’ skin too which is good.
Willis takes the bait every time and makes herself look a prima donna idiot.
Good to see male Greens making an impact.
Yes, all the rest in National have either blotted their copybooks, are seen to be too compromised or been there too long so Penk is definitely up there. I think he’s keeping his powder dry and letting the openly ambitious ones make their moves and get the chop. The public sees them for what they are and not only that is sick of the National hierarchy ignoring our opinion and picking unsuitable candidates who go on to be unsuitable ministers.
TPM has cleverly assembled quite young candidates and that’s what’s needed.
They make the crusty old fossils on the right look even crustier and remind us all, that young people are coming along who are capable of filling these roles. We need to let them.
Half National’s problem is the lack of youthful potential. They bring in the likes of Luxon who hasn’t done a proper political apprenticeship which shows. He doesn’t appeal to anyone under 40? Saying his fave music is that of a 26 year old doesn’t make any difference. Young voters only see a pompous, inadequate old man who is trying to pose as a young man and who talks down to them.
Then we have NACT first and they were all born old. Not in a good way either.
“Best politicians” = a meaningless statement. What do the likes of Maipi-Clark and Steve Abel really have to offer that makes them fit to govern?
One might ask the same of Luxon and Seymour.
That’s your best defense of Martyn’s top 10?
No, I wrote my defense at the top. Did you not read that?
My comment to you was as weak as your comment initially.
Humanity and humility Pope, something the right don’t do, never have. And given Luxon, Seymour ND Winston ey al have been abject failures, I’d say they Green MPs offer plenty.
Agree with some of the picks. Not sure why you Martyn have left off Chippy and Kieran McAnulty who have done a great job. As a lefties from Labour I don’t agree with Chloe being there. I honestly don’t think she’s that good (even though I would like to). I think she’s incredibly reactionary and needs to stand aside for Steve Abel or Teano. There’s a lot of hype about Chloe that just simply hasn’t been borne out. As I said don’t understand why you are putting some of the Greens ahead of proven performers like Kieran and Ayesga Verral.
Agree with some of the picks. Not sure why you Martyn have left off Chippy and Kieran McAnulty who have done a great job. As a leftie from Labour I don’t agree with Chloe being there. I honestly don’t think she’s that good (even though I would like to). I think she’s incredibly reactionary and needs to stand aside for Steve Abel or Teano. There’s a lot of hype about Chloe that just simply hasn’t been borne out. As I said don’t understand why you are putting some of the Greens ahead of proven performers like Kieran and Ayesha Verral.
Agree with some of the picks. Not sure why you Martyn have left off Chippy and Kieran McAnulty who have done a great job. As a leftie from Labour I don’t agree with Chloe being there. I honestly don’t think she’s that good (even though I would like to). I think she’s incredibly reactionary and needs to stand aside for Steve Abel or Teano. There’s a lot of hype about Chloe that just simply hasn’t been borne out. As I said don’t understand why you are putting some of the Greens ahead of proven performers like Kieran and Ayesha Verral.
I was impressed with Deborah Russel she wasn’t afraid of anyone in the many urgency debates in fact the whole of the Labour’s caucus did well showing up their counterparts on the government backbenches as boorish arrogant fools whose tenure is numbered best many of them look for a new job
I watched the urgency debates that went on some. days from 9am to after midnight. Being in opposition in urgency is no picnic. Basically you are there to try to slow the legislation down on principle because the public have had no chance to have a say, to put up cogent arguments, propose amendments, and to ask sensible questions of the chair (ie the Minister). I agree Arena is impressive, but so were many others, experienced and not so experiences. it is always worth a watch. On the Greens, I would rate Lawrence Xu-nan as excellent in these debates and I see he spoke more often than anyone else in the last parliament. I also note that Melissa Lee spoke the least – not even a patsy question . No surprises there. Chris Penk ; pffft. you just like him because he came on your show.
5 green mps lol.
Excellent article though my opinion about Penk is not all that nice. He needs to mind where he parks his vehicle when he goes for a swim at a local West Auckland pool because one time his National Party Emblazoned vehicle took over the side of a road that has become very narrow due to the onslaught of On-Street Parking Problem. Yes I would be called picky but being a long-term i.e over 62 years West Auckland resident in the particular suburb did not go down to well with me and probably many others.
I am sure the Ten Worse MPs will be across the board within National, ACT and NZ First.
And will some others who exist for Ego and Self-Gain also gain mention in the Ten Worst MPs?