“Determination and Courage” vs. “No Boats”: Chris Bishop Tops CTU Worker Survey as Colleagues Falter

By Lions Roar News Political Desk

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (Tuesday, January 20, 2026) — In a surprising twist for a center-right government, Chris Bishop has emerged as the most respected National Party minister among New Zealand’s unionized workforce. However, the results of the Council of Trade Unions’ (CTU) latest “Mood of the Workforce” survey suggest that “respect” does not necessarily equal “popularity.”

The survey, which gathered data from 3,758 workers—including nurses, teachers, tradies, and wharfies—provides a raw look at how the people on the front lines of the economy view the ministers overseeing their sectors.

🏆 The Top Performer: Chris Bishop

Despite his party currently scaling back some of his ambitious housing reforms in Auckland, Bishop received the highest marks among the six ministers tracked.

The Feedback: Workers described him as possessing “determination and courage,” with several respondents noting he remained “slightly sensible” amidst coalition friction.
The Reputation: His “genuine character” helped him secure the top spot, particularly with workers in the housing and infrastructure sectors.
The Caveat: While he ranked #1, analysts note his score is hardly a “resounding endorsement,” reflecting a general skepticism toward the coalition’s broader industrial relations policies.

📉 The Bottom of the Barrel: “Nicky No Boats”

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Transport and Associate Energy Minister Simeon Brown and others faced harsh criticism, but the most scathing feedback was reserved for Nicola Willis (referred to by some as the Finance Minister overseeing the public service) and specific sectoral ministers.

One respondent famously dubbed a failing minister “Nicky no boats,” a stinging reference to the cancellation of the Interislander ferry replacement project (iReX), which has left wharfies and transport workers feeling abandoned.

📊 The Rankings: Mood of the Workforce 2026

The survey asked workers to rank ministers based on their impact on job security, pay, and health and safety.

Rank	Minister	Key Sector	Worker Sentiment Snippet
1	Chris Bishop	Housing / RMA	“Determined and has genuine character.”
2	Erica Stanford	Education	Respected for competence, but under fire for funding.
3	Dr. Shane Reti	Health	Viewed as knowledgeable, but “handcuffed” by budgets.
4	Simeon Brown	Transport	Criticized over “Pothole Fund” vs. public transport.
5	Paul Goldsmith	Justice / Workplace	Deeply unpopular over Fair Pay Agreement repeals.
6	Nicola Willis	Finance	The “Nicky no boats” moniker stuck regarding ferry cuts.

(Note: The survey focused on these six key ministers outside of the three Coalition Leaders: Luxon, Peters, and Seymour.)

🔍 Analysis: A Workforce in Tension

CTU President Richard Wagstaff noted that the survey highlights a “disconnect” between the government’s legislative agenda and the daily reality of workers. While Bishop is praised for his “sensible” approach to housing, the overall mood of the workforce remains tense due to:

The Repeal of Fair Pay Agreements: A major pain point for supermarket and factory workers.
Public Service Cuts: Affecting the ranking of those overseeing the “back office” of government.
Infrastructure Delays: Specifically the fallout from the canceled ferry project.