Reviewed by Tony Orman

[Politics] “is a punishing game with every move they make, or should have made, open to public scrutiny.” –Barry Soper

A very experienced journalist

Southland-born journalist Barry Soper is no doubt well known to many. His gravelly voice, tinged with humour sometimes erupting into a gleeful (or is it cynical?) laugh, is well known to listeners of ZB Talkback radio as the station’s senior political correspondent. Before that he served on TVNZ and previously with the tabloid “New Zealand Truth”, “Waikato Times”, “Southland Times” and others.

From 1980 he was based in the parliamentary press gallery. This gave him a close connection with every New Zealand prime minister since 1980. “One Last Question, Prime Minister” is memories of those prime ministers — Rob Muldoon, David Lange, Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark, John Key, Bill English, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hopkins and current PM Christopher Luxon.

In recalling memories individually of the prime ministers, the author gives some interesting and at times intriguing insights into the individuals, their hallmarks — and their foibles. Of course bear in mind, that New Zealand’s strict libel laws inhibit probing too deeply. So perhaps at times, read between the lines, so as to speak.

The best and the worst

Barry Soper writes that politics “is a punishing game with every move they make or should have made – open to public scrutiny.” He dares to rank them and puts Helen Clark as the highest. She had a formidable intellect, was fiercely competent and became the no-nonsense leader the country needed. She had a hard shell, no doubt, but I got to know a softer Clark and had a lot of time for her. I still do.

John Key slots in as runner-up, yet “not far behind”, while Jacinda Ardern is regarded as “the weakest of our significant PMs — she was ineffective and the second term of her government was notable only for the fact the Labour Party completely botched the unprecedented mandate they had been handed by the electorate. That was a tragedy.”

Thoughts on some of the others

His assessment of Jim Bolger is “a solid guy, underrated by many—a steady hand on the tiller over the seven years he was in charge” and Rob Muldoon and David Lange– “in contrasting ways, larger-than-life characters.”

Lange was “a brilliant debater – a showman”.

In the late 1980s the 4th Labour government’s death throes were characterised by clashes between PM David Lange and Finance Minister Roger Douglas. In the ensuing months, Geoffrey Palmer became PM for a few short months– “intelligent, down to earth, and a thoroughly decent human being but probably never cut out to be PM.”

Also in the same category was Mike Moore who comes across as somewhat insecure, “a contradiction (while) a mighty figure in the Labour Party (but) a relatively insignificant PM.”

Jenny Shipley had a lot of good qualities but was “bland” and “never a great political scholar.”

Hospital passes — being dropped in it

Bill English is classed as “a political craftsman who earned respect across party lines.” Certainly in my opinion he was given in rugby terms “a hospital pass” by PM John Key abrupt resignation with election year nigh. 

But then the same might be said about PM Jacinda Ardern’s sudden stepping down to leave Chris Hipkins holding the proverbial squawking baby on the virtual eve of an election, just several months away. For me it was bad form by both Key and Ardern.

The final two chapters deal with Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon, the respective leaders of Labour and National. With an election looming in November, these two chapters are significant. No further details — read for yourself.

Other political personalities

Contained in the book are politicians other than prime ministers such as such as Winston Peters – “the most consummate politician”, Trevor de Cleene — “a brilliant man”, Bill Rowling — “a very human sort of guy”, Roger Douglas, Bill Birch nicknamed “The Knife” because of his sharpness. Quite a few MPs feature as would be expected. 

Photographs feature a colour section and black and white photos of each relevant prime minister with each chapter.

As a parliamentary press gallery journalist Barry Soper rubbed shoulders with the prime ministers outside of the House and also accompanying them on overseas trips. Consequently there’s some intimate recollections from the hotel bars, back rooms and hallways outside of the debating chamber.

A timely publication

With an election coming later this year, One Last Question, Prime Minister” is both a timely publication and an entertaining, intriguing read. 

But for those libel laws, it might have been even more revealing. Strongly recommended.

One Last Question, Prime Minister From Muldoon to Luxon: untold stories from the House of Parliament, by Barry Soper, published by Harper Collins NZ, RRP $39.99. Due for release 28 April 2026