National’s fourth ranked Cabinet Minister Simon Power has announced he will retire from politics at the election.
Mr Power said he was looking forward to continuing to contribute to New Zealand’s growth, but in the private sector.
“It’s time for new challenges and new opportunities.
“I’ve been extremely privileged to serve in the Cabinet under Prime Minister John Key, and as the Member for Rangitikei since 1999.
“It’s been an exciting and rewarding time and I’ve achieved a lot, but now I feel it’s time to move on to something else.”
He said he had discussed his decision with Mr Key and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, who were supportive of his move.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as the holder of three warrants in this Government, and am not closing the door on future public roles, but it’s time for new challenges.”
I’m surprised by this announcement although I remember a conversation with Simon some years ago when he said he was aiming to be an MP for the medium rather than long term.
He has a wife and two young children and politics is a career which requires many sacrifices by families especially when the MP has both cabinet and electorate responsibilities.
While Simon will be missed his resignation provides an opportunity for new blood in caucus and opens up a cabinet spot for one of the other able National MPs.
Contrast that with Labour with a front bench still dominated by Clark era MPs who on average entered parliament 17 years ago.
Homepaddock 
good, hopefully the next Minister will have some guts, and not be a limp wristed crim hugger
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Tightening bail and toughening sentences for crimes against children, and legislation to keep the worst murderers in jail until the day they die, deny parole to repeat violent offenders, impose a levy on criminals that will go to victims and create new anti-gang laws is gutless, limp wristed crim hugging?
See: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/patrick-gower/news/article.cfm?a_id=320&objectid=10567235
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Is the Guest poster at The Standard right about this?
“The reasons are obvious. As a decent man and an old fashioned caring Tory, Power has no heart for the direction National want to take New Zealand. His resignation is a sign that within the party, the dry right have finally taken total control the idealogical reigns and there is no longer a place for liberal wets like Power.”?
And Danyl at The Dim-Post right about this,
““DPF is wroth with the media for tastelessly pestering the Finance Minister about his plans to finance the re-building of Christchurch. Apparently when English publicly muses about financing the cost of the quake and then calls a press conference to discuss the issue it’s ‘ghastly opportunism’ on the part of the media to question him on it and report his answers, especially if they’re politically unpopular ideas like scaling back Working For Families.”?
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Posters at the Standard are never right – always left and almost always wrong.
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That’s the spirit Ele!
Your response certainly addressed their claims.
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If Power had a problem it was he had the fastest legislative pen in the West. He may have decided he had run to the natural end of his tether and decided he had gone about as fer as he could go (there’s a Rogers and Hammerstein in there somewhere).
He also doesn’t preclude coming back and at 42 he still has a future in politics.
JC
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National is a broad church party, Robert, and the caucus reflects that. There are plenty of liberals in caucus and you don’t have to be a liberal to be caring.
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You have to cut Robert a bit of slack sometimes Ele; as Kermit the Frog sang; It isn’t easy being Green!
Good on Power for knowing when it was time to move on; there are far too many time-servers in the Parliament already.
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HP what Robert does not understand is that you can have strong disagreement within the National Party and it’s Caucus. Unlike left wing parties like Labour and the Greens where being a `yes’ man or waman is mandatory.
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Is pdm suggesting that Power is leaving because of ‘strong disagreement within the National Party and it’s Caucus’?
A fractured Government?
I find it very, very odd that someone like Power, who was working at full power, is young and seemingly successful at what he was doing, suddenly abandons his party for no apparent reason.
Very odd indeed.
Don’t you?
The National Party seems to shed it’s MPs like dandruff since Key took the reins (giddyup!)
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The caucus will have a range of views and interesting discussions. That is normal and healthy.Just like family you odn’t have to agree all the time as long as you’re united on the things that matter.
There is no fracture.
There is nothing odd in someone who has been in politics for 12 years, who has many skills, the ability to work in other areas – almost certainly better paid, and a young family, wanting to do something else.
What is very odd indeed is the number of Labour MPs who can’t wean themselves from parliament to allow for much needed refreshment.
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