February 12, 2013
Shearer not ready to endorse Tamihere
Labour leader David Shearer says politics is a competitive business, and if John Tamihere wants to come back to parliament he needs to take his chances with everyone else.
The former cabinet minister turned Waipareira Trust Chief Executive is eying up the nomination for the Waitakere seat now held by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.
Mr Shearer says he bumped into Mr Tamihere at Waitangi and had a chat, but there are still questions about whether he will put his name forward.
“I have avoided picking favourites for the simple reasons that I don’t know who the other candidate is going to put their name forward. Couple of years out, certainly 18 months out before the next election, that wouldn’t be a smart thing for a leader to do”.
David Shearer says half the votes in Labour candidate selections come from members in the local electorate, and half from the party and affiliates.
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