May 01, 2017
Rankings rankle as Labour list delayed
Labour has delayed the release of its party list as reports emerge of candidates unhappy with their rankings.
The list was due out today but a party staffer confirmed it will be tomorrow at the earliest.
Broadcaster Willie Jackson may not have got the high placing he was promised by leader Andrew Little.
The Auckland urban Maori leader was working with the Maori Party on candidate selection before throwing in his lot with Labour,
That promise was always going to be hard to deliver with party heavyweights like Trevor Mallard, David Parker, Raymond Huo and Mr Little himself needing safe passage back into parliament.
In stating his preferences to Labour's national council, acting as its list moderating committee, Mr Little would also be up against the party's aim of women making up half its caucus.
That could put Willow Jean Prime and Kiritapu Allen, both strong Maori candidates in unwinnable seats, ahead of Mr Jackson.
Long time list MP Sue Moroney has already decided to quit at the election after being given a low ranking, so Labour now need to find a new candidate for Hamilton West.
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