Hobbs makes way for 'different faces'

Marian Hobbs

Marian Hobbs sobbed into her pillow after telling her colleagues she would not seek re-election to the Cabinet.

The minister who acquired the unfortunate Teletubbies-inspired title of "Boo-boo" after a series of gaffes early in Labour's first term was typically open in explaining her decision to the media yesterday.

After telling her colleagues of her decision at Monday's Cabinet meeting she went home, went to bed, and then the reality hit.

"I thought, 'My God I've just made a decision that really changed my life and I've given up all these opportunities' and the reality hit me and I didn't sleep for ages; sobbed into my pillow ... and I feel okay now."

She said the only reason for her move was that it gave someone else a chance.

She talked 18 months ago to Prime Minister Helen Clark about her intentions after thinking a lot about renewal of Cabinet.

"When we finished the 2002 election I didn't want to stand aside then, but I realised that we weren't actually presenting different faces, different ideas, different arguments."

Ms Hobbs holds the Environment, and Disarmament and Arms Control portfolios, as well as being the Minister Responsible for Archives NZ, the National Library and the Law Commission.

The MP for Wellington Central said there were bright and able people being blocked from advancement.

"It is actually genuinely about that. I know that reporters find it very hard to believe. I don't think it's normal behaviour for politicians to do this, but then I've never been very normal."

Previously a high school principal, she said it was common for principals to last no more than seven to nine years.

Although there were early problems in her first term she had been relatively trouble-free in the past term, despite the Corngate inquiry in 2003.

Ms Hobbs, 57, had not decided whether she would contest the next election.

Ministry for the Environment chief executive Barry Carbon said Ms Hobbs had been a good minister and could "leave the position with pride".

"The thing that you didn't see was just how damned hard-working she was behind the scenes."

Mr Carbon, who is leaving his job later this year, said Ms Hobbs had strongly believed every team needed new blood coming in.