Praise for minor party leaders

David Seymour won publicity in Dancing With the Stars.

New Zealand First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is seen by business as the "most impressive" of the minor party leaders.

On 3.07/5, he narrowly pipped Greens Co-leader and Minister for Climate Change James Shaw (2.98/5) in the 2018 survey.

Peters was dominating "through experience" ... "Winston's experience has shined and he is cruising nicely", were typical comments.

"I give Peters that rating grudgingly, and more as a reflection of how he is performing relative to the fact that he leads a minor party and keeping it relevant," said a residential construction head who rated Peters at 4/5. "I may not like the policies or the style or the constituency, but he's doing a great job of representing himself by representing their interests."

"Shaw seems to be actually doing the hard work of addressing environmental issues — largely without recognition," said a legal firm boss. "Peters has shown himself to be a safer pair of hands in government than we expected (just as he did the previous times).

"But Peters has to address Shane Jones' behaviour and comments, which could be very damaging to NZ as a destination for foreign investment. Seymour and Davidson are non-entities — each in their own way."

Said a tourism boss who rated the Greens co-leader 5/5: "James Shaw has been the best performing minister in the Government.

"Assiduously built relationships and focused on what he came to do — has great clarity on his job."

There was just one comment relating to Greens co-leader Marama Davidson who was rated 1.73/5.

"Shaw and Davidson balance each other out. One calm and sensible and approachable and the other extreme and reactionary." (lobbying firm boss).

As for Act leader David Seymour who came in at 2.24/5: "Great Dancer. No, seriously, he has stood up very effectively on the Maori Charter schools which are working," — private equity boss.