Labour president denies split over Manurewa

A stoush over the Manurewa candidate selection process is not a sign of deeper divisions within the Labour party, its president Andrew Little says.

Mr Little lashed out at outgoing MP George Hawkins over comments he made about the selection process which Louisa Wall won on Sunday.

Mr Hawkins yesterday confirmed to NZPA he had threatened to call a by-election, which would have been expensive for Labour especially so close to a general election, if the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) union organiser Jerome Mika was chosen.

"I did as much as I could to make sure the local people got their views," he said.

Mr Hawkins said he wanted the local community to have a say and he disapproved of the way the EPMU had promoted Mr Mika.

"There was a certain arrogance in saying 'so-and-so is getting it and that's all there is to it'."

Mr Little, who also heads the EPMU but absented himself in the Manurewa decision because of that conflict, told The Dominion-Post that Mr Hawkins had been on the margins of the party for a long time and "the key objective was to remove George Hawkins and we achieved that objective".

Prime Minister John Key was gleeful about the stoush.

"Shambolic really, you've got the president disagreeing with one of their long-serving members."

Mr Little said too much could be read into the dispute.

"There's no tension at all -- the party is united," he told NZPA.

"I am pleased with the selection in Manurewa and getting on with the business."

Asked about his comments about Mr Hawkins, Mr Little said he wished him well in his retirement.

"He made some comments that were wrong about me and about the EPMU and his comments weren't what I would expect of a senior MP. But he's made his comments I've made my comments and life is moving on."

Asked if there had been any fallout in the party Mr Little said he had spoken to a number of people including leader Phil Goff: "and it was a good discussion and that's as far as it goes really".

Mr Little couldn't say the last time he spoke to Mr Hawkins.

"We don't actually cross each others' paths that much to be perfectly honest."

Mr Little said he stood aside whenever one of his union people wanted to stand for an electorate, even if they left the EPMU years ago.

"Any perception of bias is one that I am keen to avoid. I set a very low threshold to absent myself for those reasons."

The only former EPMU person in Parliament is Lynne Pillay.

Mr Little said the union did not seek to have its own people in Parliament and affiliation with Labour assured representation.

"We don't go around recruiting candidates...people come forward and seek our backing and occasionally we give it, other times we go with what the other affiliates do or we just chose to be part of the process without backing anybody."

Mr Goff this morning said Mr Little retained his confidence.

"There's a lot around the selection there were disagreements, the important thing is we've come out with a very strong candidate...that's what's important"