April 17, 2023
Jones back to milk Northland votes
New Zealand First has confirmed Shane Jones as its candidate for Northland in October’s general election.
The former cabinet minister came a distant third in the seat in 2020, more than 10,000 votes behind winner Willow-Jean Prime and National incumbent Matt Hunt.
Party leader Winston Peters says Northland has been neglected for decades with the exception of the five years between 2015, when he won the seat in a by-election, and 2020, when New Zealand First was ousted from parliament.
A driving force to revive the area during that time was Mr Jones, in his role as minister for regional economic development.
Mr Peters described him as a nationalist who despite his Harvard university training has never forgotten where he came from or how to milk cows.
New Zealand First will run a two tick campaign for the seat.