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The leader of the Opposition is the hardest job in politics – or so they say.

Being thrust into the lofty heights of Prime Minister at the tail-end of Labour’s term, it's a job Chris Hipkins has never had before.

For Labour’s caucus, keeping Chippy on as Labour leader was a no-brainer – with his experience, political disposition and skill he’s clearly the right man for the job.

And he’s in for a tough ride, as the party picks itself up and moves forward.

Tough, yes. But the hardest job in politics? Not this time around.

That job has yet to be assigned, but it will likely go to a man few outside Wellington’s beltway bubble, and the people of Hamilton East, have ever heard of: Tama Potaka.

With a propensity for a loud tie, usually paired with an equally loud shirt – Potaka is hard to miss in any room he walks into.

But it’s not his fashion senses, or lack there or, that will make the next three years particularly difficult for him.

It’s the position he’s highly likely to inherit when National, Act and New Zealand First finally pull together a Government.

ZB understands Potaka is the front-runner to be the Minister of Māori Development.

It’s a job he’s highly qualified for. Before winning the Hamilton East by-election, Potaka was the chief executive of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki.

He’s also spent more than seven years as a general manager at Tainui Group Holdings in Hamilton and had an instrumental hand in the Waikato-Tainui developments.

And he has a Master of Laws from Columbia University to boot.

But none of that will prepare him for what’s to come.

Potaka is going up against a small army of some of the staunchest, most focused and relentless Māori politicians the country has ever seen.

Te Pati Māori -- already punching well above its weight in the House – has tripled its political footprint.

The Green Party’s bolstered its already formidable ranks Māori MPs, with the likes of Hūhana Lyndon, Darleen Tana and Tamatha Paul.

And then there’s Labour.

Despite its caucus being decimated, it still boasts a considerable level of Māori political talent, including: Kelvin Davis, Willie Jackson, Willie-Jean Prime and Peeni Henare just to name a few.

They’ll all be relentlessly focused on outcomes for Māori and will be pulling no punches when it comes to their advocacy.

Potaka’s already proved himself a skilled political operator, and someone well-connected within Maoridom.

But going up against that level of opposition will prove to be an almost insurmountable task.

And that’s just the political left.

Potaka will also be the Māori face of a Government which will include both Act and New Zealand First.

Both parties have already come under intense criticism for their stance on several Māori issues, not least a potential referendum on the Treaty.

On their own, those are issues for the respective parties. Under one Government umbrella, that all becomes Potaka’s problem.

Even if the Treaty referendum doesn’t eventuate, the likely incoming Māori Development Minister will constantly be in the firing line from the Opposition.

Māori lagging in educational outcomes? Potaka’s problem. Issues with Māori housing? The Māori prison population increasing? Potaka will be the one forced to front up.

Not to mention the myriad of problems with Oranga Tamariki.

It’s likely Potaka will face a grilling for all sides during most Question Times – to say it will test his mettle is an understatement.

That’s not to say he can’t hack it.

ZB’s spoken to several MPs in the Labour camp who also speak highly of Potaka.

Inside National’s camp, it’s the same.

Leader Chris Luxon’s been impressed with Potaka since he arrived in Parliament less than a year ago.

He’s staring down the barrel of a very tough job. But with the mahi, come the treats.

With so much attention there’s ample room for progression within the Government ranks.

If Potaka’s able to handle the intense scrutiny he’s no doubt soon to receive, Chris “KPI” Luxon will award him up with other lucrative portfolios.

And looking into the future, Potaka could well be considered leadership material – maybe even one day New Zealand’s first Māori Prime Minister.

But first, he has to endure the hardest job in politics.