Christopher Luxon should ask Adrian Rurawhe to remain as Speaker of the House. The good-natured grandfather has been a breath of fresh air after the chaos and bitterness of the Mallard years. Taking up the role after perhaps the most biased and inflammatory Speaker on record, Rurawhe was able to endear himself to both sides of the House while taking a relaxed but firm approach. It is difficult to imagine him turning the sprinklers and Barry Manilow on a lawn full of protestors.

To retain Rurawhe would be to break from the norm. Unlike Great Britain, from where we inherited our Westminster Parliamentary system, in New Zealand,the party leading the Government vote in a speaker from their own party to preside over the House of Representatives, usually without contest. Only twice has a member of the Opposition been voted in, in 1923 and 1993. In both instances this was to protect the slim majority of the governing party.

Luxon shouldn’t be daunted by this fact, however, as the move would signal a principled approach to running Parliament with a setting aside of party politics. He could lean into his performance-centric, best-person-for-the-job ethos too.

Rurawhe is, of course, the devil he knows.

Although the appointment would probably earn Luxon kudos for appearing magnanimous, there are party-political reasons it would be a good idea too. Balancing a Cabinet is a fine art and as much as Luxon touts his merit-based appointing strategy, the reality is the media will count the women, Māori and rainbow community members. Though unless MPs come flooding out of the closet, they are out of luck on the latter.

For a start, Luxon needs to ensure that his Cabinet has a good mix of experience and fresh talent. Appointing one of his most experienced MPs to Speaker would take them out of the Cabinet room and away from vital ministerial portfolios.

Gerry Brownlee and Judith Collins have been whispered about as potential Speakers and either would do a great job. They are incredibly knowledgeable and would have no trouble commanding authority from the chair. However, Brownlee is also being talked about for Foreign Minister and is travelling with Carmel Sepuloni to the Pacific Island Forum currently as we remain in a government limbo. He has a wealth of information on international politics and is known to be very interested in this space.

Collins has also had her name floated for Foreign Minister and, more recently, as Attorney General given James Christmas didn’t make it into Parliament on the list. She has the legal credentials and it would be a suitably senior role. Chris Penk has been National’s Shadow Attorney General, but he doesn’t have Collins’ experience and may well still be required as Chief Whip.

The other Honourables in Luxon’s team are Louise Upston who will almost certainly be Minister for Social Development, Mark Mitchell who likewise is a cert for Police Minister, Todd McClay whose trade experience will be needed in Cabinet, Paul Goldsmith who has been the spokesman in Opposition, and Scott Simpson who did a handful of months as Minister of Statistics in 2017 and could find himself a minister outside of cabinet.

The other obvious candidate for Speaker wouldn’t need to pretend to be dragged kicking and screaming to the chair; as is the quirky tradition. One gets the impression Winston Peters would rather give up whiskey than have to be politically neutral. There is enormous mana in the role, but has been Acting Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and is already a Right Honourable. He hasn’t been short of mana-enhancing roles.

If Collins ere to be Speaker, the Cabinet would also be short a woman and it is likely to be a lopsided one; heavy on men. Nicola Willis, Upston, Erica Stanford and Collins are certain to be in Cabinet with Melissa Lee, Penny Simmonds, and Nicola Grigg possibles to join them. Act’s Brooke van Velden could find herself at the table with Nicole McKee and Karen Chhour Ministers or Associate Ministers outside of Cabinet, and number three on New Zealand First’s list, Casey Costello could be looking at an Associate role outside of Cabinet, but it is her first term.

With a Cabinet light on Māori MPs, Rurawhe’s whakapapa could appeal to Luxon. A Māori Speaker is good optics, when Shane Reti has the whole of Māoridom on his scholarly shoulders in Cabinet. Tama Potaka could be brought in; he has an impressive CV and would be perfect as Treaty Negotiations Minister with his legal background and work on the other side of Treaty claims. Potaka is very new to Parliament, however. The presence of David Seymour and Peters at the table would then double the Māori representation.

Ultimately, having Rurawhe continue as Speaker ensures less disruption and, with Parliament in his capable hands, the new Government can hit the ground running. Although, I could be completely wrong and we may just see Simeon Brown take the chair as New Zealand’s 32nd Speaker of the House of Representatives.