North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Ministerial loss a win for Shore constituents
The three National MPs on the North Shore who have lost ministerial positions as a result of Labour’s triumphant ascent to power, will now have more time for their constituents.
With National now in Opposition, Northcote MP Jonathan Coleman no longer holds the Minister of Health portfolio, and North Shore MP Maggie Barry has relinquished the Arts, Culture, and Heritage, Conservation, and Seniors portfolios.
Upper Harbour MP Paula Bennett gives up the State Services, Women, Tourism, Police and Climate Change ministerial roles.
But Massey University associate professor Dr Grant Duncan said that, in a few ways, it would be a win for their electorates.
‘‘In a sense, while Maggie Barry and co will no longer be ministers of the Crown, the North Shore is getting back its MPs,’’ the politics and public policy specialist said.
‘‘You can argue the three MPs are now going to be more accessible to constituents.’’
The loss of ministerial responsibilities would increase the time on their hands and the frequency in which they would be in their electorates.
Duncan also anticipated the MPs would be able to speak more freely now they were in Opposition.
Maggie Barry said being released from her three ministerial portfolios, and their required meetings which often sent her to Wellington, would result in her taking a more active role in local advocacy.
‘‘I think being around the electorate more, as I will be ... I will be engaging a lot more with groups,’’ Barry said.
‘‘Some stuff I do will be business as usual, but I hope to make a real difference to community advocacy.’’
There were times where her role as an MP clashed with her role as a minister, Barry said.
Constituents wanted to meet with her as an MP, but about her ministerial portfolios often confused the protocol around the meeting.
‘‘I will be freed from being the minister and having to be impartial,’’ she said.
‘‘That blurring of the lines that was awkward ... won’t happen any more.’’
Barry spent more than three decades in broadcasting before her career in Parliament.
She said she would be drawing on her old journalism skills to hold the new Government to account. ‘‘It’ll make me a better politician,’’ she said.