National MP Tau Henare has not given up on his bid to be the next Speaker despite Prime Minister John Key's lack of enthusiasm for the idea.
Mr Henare this week launched a bid to take over as Speaker after Lockwood Smith is appointed as High Commissioner to London, expected at the end of the year.
Mr Henare yesterday conceded it did not look as if he had Mr Key's support for the role - but believed he deserved a chance.
"At the end of the day, some people didn't think he was going to be a good Prime Minister and he's turned out to be a wonderful Prime Minister...It's up the votes in the House, but I've got as good a chance as anybody else."
Asked about Mr Henare's ambition for the job, Prime Minister John Key said the Government had not yet decided who its nomination might be.