It's impossible to know whether he would have pursued a formidable growth agenda if the country's finances had not been sideswiped by the global financial crisis. There has been a series of crises - particularly the Canterbury earthquakes.
The upshot is the PM's style has essentially become reactive. Too poll-driven to be called true leadership. He has been a good cheerleader for New Zealand at a time when the national spirit could have descended into a depressive funk.
But he has not demonstrated the leadership style that Power talked about in his valedictory. The style that MPs know in their heart of hearts is required of them. But few achieve in an environment where the political feedback loop is these days all-powerful.
New Zealand will need a spell of very focused leadership at some stage if we are to get back firmly on the path to prosperity. But Power is not now going to have a chance to be National Prime Minister any time soon.
That said it's worth focusing on what he said in his valedictory: Politicians must have a plan. A plan that is in place early, and one they are prepared to lead.
His contention is the politicians should lead agendas, improve the lot of their countrymen, push change, and execute ideas.
As he said in his valedictory: "Once in office, you've got to do something. That is why having a plan matters.
"Politicians should manage less and lead more. I love the quote from influential Republican media adviser Roger Ailes, who was moved to quip: 'When I die, I want to come back with real power. I want to come back as a member of a focus group.'
"Actually, taking a position and selling it, persuading and debating, is what politics is all about."
Power is not obviously charismatic. But he does have gravitas.
Though he is young enough - at almost 42 - to re-enter politics in six or nine years' time after making his own pile in the private banking world, it is very likely new blood will have emerged within National by then. Judging by his valedictory, Power would not want to do another lag on the Opposition benches (he spent nine long years coping with that sort of "grinding negativity").
Like Urquhart, Power - who bows out of politics to launch a corporate career - also served as his party's chief whip. The words writer Andrew Davies used to describe the fictional Conservative Party whip ("there seems to be something inevitable, inexorable, about his smooth, unhurried, apparently irresistible progress") could just as easily have applied to Power.
Soon after entering Parliament, he had been earmarked as a potential future National Prime Minister, even though in his early years in politics he seemed more famous for "being Simon Power" than for any political deeds. I had thought him over-rated.
But my opinion changed after watching him shepherd along a huge reform agenda: 462 Cabinet papers, according to his valedictory speech.
Power deserves some black marks for leaving behind an unfinished job. It has to be noted that the huge Securities Law reform agenda has yet to be debated through Parliament. The Financial Markets Authority, which he promoted as the answer to the slack New Zealand regulatory regime which has resulted in immense harm to generations of investors, was watered down after key players in the broking, legal and banking communities executed yet another successful late run.
It is a pity Key did not find some avenue to keep this talented politician within his Government.
