The region has a history of high-performing MPs such as Finance Minister Bill English and former Labour cabinet ministers Sir Michael Cullen, Pete Hodgson and Stan Rodger.
Even one-term National MPs Sir James Barnes and Richard Walls went on to become Dunedin mayors and JB Munro worked tirelessly for people with disabilities after his one term as an MP.
However, there is a general feeling now the South needs a influx of new blood and that is unlikely to happen as parties continue to select people more likely not to make waves within the hierarchy.
The one hope for change is in Clutha-Southland, where Todd Barclay is facing a challenge from fellow Nat Simon Flood.
List MP and Cabinet Minister Michael Woodhouse is the highest ranked MP south of the Waitaki on 7 out of 10.
TransTasman says Mr Woodhouse, given revenue when Judith Collins took over police, has recovered from the worm farm health and safety fiasco. Mr Woodhouse came through a testing time over the Panama Papers and had another competent year.
While congratulations are in order for Mr Woodhouse on a national scale, locally the MP has received a lot of flak for his perceived lack of interest in Dunedin City as a whole. True or not, Mr Woodhouse is seen as an MP beholden to his party for a high list ranking rather than a local MP needing the support of his voters.
Mr Barclay inherited a seat for life from Mr English but his first term has been less than memorable. TransTasman said Mr Barclay's electorate office problems were hushed up. The MP was given a hurry up and now represented local Queenstown issues more effectively.
Mr Barclay rates as 2 out of 10 and appears to forget his electorate stretches across to Clutha, where Telford staff members are fighting for their jobs and the future of the agricultural institute.
It is no wonder National won the party votes in Dunedin South and North, according to the rankings of Labour MPs Clare Curran and David Clark respectively.
Dr Clark lost half a point and was rated at 3.5 out of 10. TransTasman said Dr Clark was very good at blaming the Government for anything that went wrong and lost half a point for tedious repetition.
Ms Curran gained a half a point to 4. She said a lot more than was ever reported, partly because she could be a bit bewildering. ``Must keep it simple and pack more punch.''
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, also a list MP, remained on 4 and was described a ``relentless left-wing socialist with a tinge of green''.
``Ms Turei puts in the hard yards but she's far out. She'd be hard to handle in a coalition government and the prospect of having her as deputy PM is just plain scary,'' TransTasman said.
Back to National and Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean remained on 3.5 points. As a select committee chairwoman, her career was probably at a high point. Mrs Dean was good when she spoke but needed to do more of it to be noticed.
Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie was rated 3 out of 10 and described as an earnest MP, another one given menial tasks. Transtasman said Ms Dowie had not done anything to warrant an upgrade.
Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene had another disappointing year. Mr Tirikatene had no cut-through on fisheries and his arguments lacked focus, TransTasman said. He had an unchanged rating at 2.
The Maori Party is targeting Te Tai Tonga at next year's election. Mr Tirikatene has a majority of more than 3550.
