Political editor Audrey Young sets out her wish list for some of New Zealand's leading politicians to make the new year more exciting.
KEY POINTS:
Helen Clark, Prime Minister
More: Action in getting fresh faces in Labour. Reshuffle, reshuffle, reshuffle.
No more: Protecting Michael's feelings. Time to change deputy.
Don't change: Those occasional acid-tongued comments - it might not be lady-like but it's still good to know she has a vicious streak.
Michael Cullen,Deputy Prime Minister
More: Surpluses please.
No more: Yes-No-Probably-Maybe mixed messages about personal tax cuts - and it will be time to lose Finance if he gets too squeamish.
Don't change: His job of No 1 troubleshooter or Leader of the House, unless it's for the Speaker's chair.
John Key, National leader
More: Substance in answering sensitive questions (sorry, John, everyone remembers their position on the Springbok tour, especially those aged 19 at the time).
No more: Email.
Don't change: That ability to step back and assess himself as others might.
Bill English, National deputy
More: Practise doing TV well; he has the ghastly legacy of 2002 loser to overcome.
No More: "Accolades" about Don Brash's legacy.
Don't change: What Cullen calls English's "contrived anger". It delivers the finest speeches in the present Parliament, bar none.
Winston Peters, New Zealand First leader
More: Grunt on foreign affairs.
No more: Holding out on whether he stands in Tauranga. He practically lives in Auckland. He should stand there. Rob's old Tamaki mob might welcome him.
Don't change: Completely. The old Winston was quite successful.
Tariana Turia, Maori Party co-leader
More: Dinners with other party leaders. Try Labour.
No more: Doubt over whether she'll stand next election. Stay!
Don't change: Knack of being radical and old-fashioned.
Rodney Hide, Act leader
More: Politics, less body sculpting.
No more: Posing.
Don't change: ... too late.
Peter Dunne, United Future leader
More: Differentiation from Labour. Mr Vanilla is boring.
No more: Of that single curl in the middle of his forehead.
Don't change: That badgering over tax cuts, or NZ First will steal the tax-cut story.
Jeanette Fitzsimons, Greens co-leader
More: Reclaiming aspirational goals, especially on climate change.
No more: GE corn scandals.
Don't change: The day job just yet. Still very much needed by her party.
Margaret Wilson, Speaker
More: Fairness instead of sighing when irritants like Nick Smith get up to speak.
No more: Shrieking at the House to be "Quiet!" It is unbecoming.
Don't change: Attempts at humour.
