Nats need bit of a rebel

it is not just a Ma¯ ori voice at the top that National is missing. Bennett was also an exceptional personality, the West Auckland solo mum who got off the benefit and made it to Cabinet.

This background was very politically useful for Bennett and National as she carved up the benefit system, and again when she decided to back a hardline and misguided approach on meth use in state homes.

Even as deputy prime minister, Bennett never stopped being herself – a bit of a bogan, a bit loose, and someone deeply capable of laughing at herself.

It is very hard to imagine Muller really laughing at himself. Or Reti. Indeed, a sort of patrician aloofness now permeates much of National’s top ranks. Muller oozes blue-chip businessman, Nikki Kaye is every inch the former head prefect, and, despite her background as the child of a solo mother in Auckland, Amy Adams projects complete rural aristocracy.

The National Party has often leaned more toward ‘‘born-to-rule’’ than ‘‘just-like-you’’ but John Key’s party was very careful to never let this vibe take over – with MPs like Bennett there to keep the party grounded in suburban, swing-voter New Zealand, not just rural towns and urban chambers of commerce.

So what should Muller do to fix this hole in his lineup, to allow his party to still mock itself a bit, and not look like a bunch of white elites?

Well, there’s one Ma¯ ori National MP from West Auckland who has no portfolios right now and has indicated he will definitely be staying on through the election. His name is Simon Bridges.