Questions are being raised as to whether there should be term limits in Parliament to stop people hanging around.

National MP Nick Smith is calling it quits after 30 years in the job.

He says it's due to personal reasons and that he's subject to an employment investigation into a "verbal altercation" in July last year.

Former Cabinet colleague Chris Finlayson says after a while in Parliament, you become institutionalised.

“There should be term limits of about 15 years and then you should have a compulsory sabbatical. If you want to come back, it’s over to you, but you’d be pretty stupid to.”

The next candidate on National's list to take Smith's place is Harete Hipango.

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