February 27, 2015
Winston Peters to contest Northland
Labour MP Willow Jean Prime’s slim chance of taking Northland in next month’s by-election just took a blow with the entry of Winston Peters into the race.
New Zealand First leader did not stand a candidate in the general election but picked up 12.5 percent of the Party Vote.
But Mr Peters says the seat is winnable because the region has been neglected and ignored by National for years, despite it delivering a Nation MP every election since 1963.
The Maori Party has ruled out fielding a candidate, with president Naida Glavish saying it will focus instead on reinvigorating its capacity throughout the country to contest the 2017 election.
She also encouraged the eventual winner of the March 28 by-election to work with the only independent Maori party in Government to seek solutions to the many challenges facing Te Tai Tokerau.
The Greens are also staying on the sidelines.
ACT is standing Whangarei orchardist Robin Grieve, and Mana’s candidate Reuben Porter will use the campaign to encourage opposition to the Statoil exploration off Northland’s west coast.
National Party delegates will tomorrow choose the person likely to be the next MP from a field of five, including Northland Conservation Board chair Mita Harris, farmer Matt King, Kaitaia civic entre manager Grant McCallum, and businessperson Karen Rolleston.
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