I like Joseph Mooney as an MP, even if we both have different views

OPINION: I am not a National voter, and this is not an endorsement of the National Party. But I will say I like Joseph Mooney as an MP. Not because I agree with him on everything, I do not. Not because I suddenly see my own politics reflected in his, I do not. I like the fact he is visible, active, and willing to engage with the public. That matters in a healthy democracy.

Mooney’s X (formerly Twitter) account gives New Zealanders a live look at what he is doing as an MP, not just the polished parts that come through press releases from the National Party.

Saturday afternoon was one of those interesting moments at Parliament where the lawmakers were still at work, but the journalists had called it a day.

This is the area where the news media hang out at Parliament – it’s where the news that shapes a lot of the countries narrative… pic.twitter.com/FweQbOkt7m — Joseph Mooney MP (@JosephMooneyMP) July 4, 2026

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One video post showed Mooney inside Parliament on a Saturday afternoon, walking through the area where the media usually gathers. His point MPs were still working, while the journalists had gone home. People can argue about the politics of that message. They can agree or disagree with his view of the media, but the post itself was useful because it showed something ordinary voters rarely see.

Parliament is not always Question Time, theatre, shouting, or a 15-second clip on the news.

Our politicians rarely cover their daily duties; the late hours, walking through multiple corridors crossing pathways with other MPs and journalists, committee work, paperwork, and decisions they are making when most people are not watching. I guess some never see that side.

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Image: Mooney outside Parliament after midnight, following another late sitting under urgency before returning later that morning. (Supplied / Joseph Mooney MP)

Another post showed Mooney outside Parliament after midnight, with the Beehive glimmering behind him.

Mooney wrote that another midnight run had finished under urgency, with MPs due back again in the morning.

We pay MPs to work for us, and we deserve to see the work they do. We need to see more of it.

It gives the public a glimpse of the grind of Parliament. It also gives people a chance to challenge the Government’s use of urgency, question what is being pushed through, and ask whether the process is right. That is actually healthy.

MPs should not be afraid of scrutiny, and the public should not be shut out of it.

Image: Mooney chairs the Social Services and Community Select Committee during Scrutiny Week, overseeing hearings across major government agencies and budget areas. (Supplied / Joseph Mooney MP)

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Then there was a post from the Social Services and Community Select Committee during Scrutiny Week. Mooney said the committee oversees about a third of the Government’s total budget and 26 departments and agencies. That is the sort of thing voters should be in the know of.

Select committees are where a lot of serious parliamentary work happens, but they rarely get the attention they deserve. If an MP is showing people that work, even through a selfie around a committee table, that is still a window into the system.

It reminds people that Parliament is more than party slogans and political attacks.

Some people support Mooney. Some may challenge him. That is the reality of politics online.

When an MP posts, replies, and interacts, the public gets a chance to speak back. People can ask questions and raise local concerns. They can push back on decisions and can tell an MP when they think something is wrong. Connection is important, especially for places like Southland, where people do not always feel close to Wellington.

I do not need to agree with Mooney on every issue to value that. It is more important when people disagree. Democracy is strengthened when MPs hear from the people who are frustrated, sceptical, undecided, or completely opposed to ideas.

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Image: Mooney’s social media posts often mix parliamentary work with personal moments, including this selfie he shared on X. (Supplied / Joseph Mooney MP)

I am not writing this to tell anyone how to vote as people can make up their own minds. They should judge every MP on their work, their conduct, their decisions, and whether they actually show up for the people they represent.

For me, Mooney’s online presence is worth recognising because it makes politics feel more open which has been missing for such a long time. It gives people a point of contact. It invites reaction. It creates a public record people can argue with. That is better than silence.

As long as our MPs keep doing the job, keep listening to people’s concerns, and keep making themselves available to the public, they will be doing wonders for democratic engagement.

We should still want MPs who are visible, accountable, and willing to face the public.

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