A former National Minister says politicians should be booted from the Beehive after nine years.

National MP Nick Smith yesterday announced he's resigning from Parliament next week after 30 years of service.

He cited the loss of the Nelson seat he'd held for 24 years as a core reason, alongside an employment investigation.

Ex-MP Max Bradford, who was Minister of Defence under Jenny Shipley, told Phil Gifford and Simon Barnett unless they're shaping up to become Prime Minister, nobody should stick around that long.

"If you haven't made a mark on Parliament and served the interests of your electorate within nine years then you don't deserve to be there, particularly if you are a list MP."

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