Labour announces by-election candidates
The four Labour candidates competing for candidacy in the Mana by-election have been named and party president Andrew Little is predicting a close contest.
The four Labour candidates competing for candidacy in the Mana by-election have been named and party president Andrew Little is predicting a close contest.
The four Labour candidates competing for candidacy in the Mana by-election have been named and party president Andrew Little is predicting a close contest.
Press secretary and former television reporter Kris Faafoi, Vehicle Testing New Zealand business manager Michael Evans, criminal defence barrister Peter Foster and communications consultant Josie Pagani have been nominated.
The by-election was forced when Labour MP Winnie Laban announced she was leaving Parliament to take a position with Victoria University.
Mr Little said Labour was not taking the by-election for granted.
"The candidates are talented people.
"Each candidate has a depth of experience and skills and each would make a great MP."
The selection would be a tight contest and choosing the winning candidate would not be easy, he said.
A selection meeting, open to Labour Party members, would be held at Pahina Congregational Church Hall in Ranui Heights, Porirua East on September 18.
The successful candidate will stand against National MP Hekia Parata.
Mrs Parata contested the seat in the 2008 election, coming in 6155 votes behind Ms Laban, who has held the seat since 2002.
Mrs Parata was the only nominee to contest the by-election for National.