Giving credit where it is due, Rodney is reported to be popular and effective with the surprised mainstream public service staff working with him. 

The most recent comment was " I’m almost glad I am not in his immediate team, though they’re having fun, because he’s so persuasive and such an effective user of the people that I fear I’d lose my objective judgment, which is what we’re supposed to provide".

I’m glad – because I think Rodney wondered how he’d go if he had to work within Ministerial disciplines. Caucus discipline chafed and he urged us at times to commit to remaining outside government.

If he can pull off his regulatory reform project and cut local government red tape and help get real RMA reform through he’ll more than repay the trust of voters who had to swallow to look past Dancing with the Stars.