RICHARD PREBBLE: Those about to be defeated
“The average length of time served in Parliament has dropped since MMP was introduced”, says the Association of Former Members of Parliament. For list MPs it is “about four years”.
The Association ran at a loss this year of $2,806, but the treasurer “expects the situation to improve next year as more MPs leave Parliament following the 2026 General Election.”
The Association reports that many former MPs struggle to find employment.
There are few other jobs that require no educational qualifications or work experience and pay $181,200 plus perks.
The Association says: “In many towns and cities in New Zealand, there is often not a place for an ex-MP.”
Many choose not to return to their electorates. A number make Wellington their home.
One used to take me to the airport in his taxi.
The problem is not unique to New Zealand. Robert Caro, in his brilliant biography of Lyndon Johnson, recounts how Johnson was horrified to discover that a lift operator in the Capitol was a former congressman.
My advice to candidates, probably too late, is to have another occupation they can return to.
My advice to those about to be unemployed in 22 days is to get back on the horse immediately. Take a job. Any job.
I was sacked by the electorate on a Saturday.
Being too young to qualify for super, I decided that night to take the first job I was offered.
At 8 am on Sunday morning, I accepted an outlandish proposal to pitch a deal to Vietnam Rail.
By Thursday I was in Hanoi.
A year later I was chairman of the Vietnam–New Zealand railway company.
Some long-serving former MPs who qualify for super take six months off before seeking a job and never work again.
My sympathies go to the electorate agents and parliamentary staffers who will also be made unemployed on election day.
Having worked for a defeated MP is not the best CV.
Richard Prebble is a former Minister and ACT Party leader who writes at I've Been Thinking
If only these people read Cervantes, Solzenihtsyn etc before and during ‘serving’.
After then, will have to do.
Miguel Cervantes spent years as a galleyslave after being captured by the Turks. Then wrote Don Quixote.
Solzhenitsyns story you probably know.
Adversity does not improve all, but is essential to most who go on to greatness.
Looking on the bright side.
It would be preferential if those entering parliament were older with life and proffesional experience. The problem is unless you are benevolent and have the reserves to leave a successful career and take a remuneration cut, the chances of attracting such people are slim.
It’s like teachers, going to school, then teachers training/University, then going a teacher is not ideal experience. Problem is to hire those with experience in core subjects would likely involve a remuneration cut.
"The Association reports that many former MPs struggle to find employment."
Now be a devil and break that down by party!
If you have no skills before entering the political arena bar sucking up to the party bosses, it stands to reason that post parliament nothing will change.
Again Richard, be a devil and give us some party breakdown.
There is a lot to be said for an MP entering Parliament aged 40-50. Ideally they will have had a career and life experience. Maturity is the key factor. Too many current MPs enter Parliament in their 20s after a stint at University and are immature.