'Relentless if slightly eccentric'

John Boscawen carries on despite the lamington. Photo / 3NEWS

The enduring image of John Boscawen is of him giving a speech with a chocolate lamington on his head during the Mt Albert byelection last year.

While it provided some comedic gold, it also spoke volumes about Boscawen's dedication to his job.

He was more concerned about losing speaking time, so he ignored the cake and kept talking.

The newly elected deputy leader of Act is known for his slight eccentricities and an uncanny ability to talk uninterrupted for long periods, but he also has a reputation for hard work and for stalking a single issue, from his incessant criticism of the Emissions Trading Scheme to his crusade against the Electoral Finance Act.

Labour MP David Shearer, who ran against Boscawen in Mt Albert, said he had a reputation for "relentless, single-minded determination".

"He's a genuinely straight up guy, a hard worker, and he's bloody relentless and stays on message.

"He has a slight eccentric side to him, not in a bad way."

Labour's Lianne Dalziel, who sits with him on the commerce select committee, said he was a good fit for his new roles as Consumer Affairs Minister and Associate Commerce Minister.

"He will put his heart and soul into it, and doesn't kowtow to the party line on a lot of issues. He knows we need regulation in financial circles to protect people, so he is not [an Act] purist.

"He's been a tireless advocate for consumers who has really championed causes around victims of finance company failures."

Boscawen amassed a fortune firstly as an accountant and then while self-employed in finance and property investment.

He joined the Act Party in 1995 and is an avid supporter of the libertarian and free-market ideology of Sir Roger Douglas.

He is part of a caucus that has tried to stress unity since questions over the leadership were raised last year following Rodney Hide's expense scandal, when he took his girlfriend overseas on the taxpayer and ended up repaying $22,000.