Maggie Barry seeking National Party nomination for Botany byelection
Broadcaster Maggie Barry confirms she will be trying to gain the nomination for the National Party in the upcoming Botany by-election.
Broadcaster Maggie Barry is attempting to gain the nomination for the National Party in the upcoming Botany by-election.
NBR contacted Ms Barry following a tweet by Kiwiblog author David Farrar making the suggestion.
Ms Barry told NBR she had been supportive of the ideals of the National Party for some time, but decided against becoming a Party member while working as a broadcaster.
“I’ve never felt it was a good idea to join the party then - and then have to interview people and be seen as impartial and be seen to be fair,” she said.
“I joined the day I resigned from [Radio] Live.”
Given Ms Barry's short history as a party member she will require a waiver by the National Party board to be eligible as a candidate.
With numerous nominee for the vacant blue-ribbon candidacy, Ms Barry isn’t expecting an easy campaign to become the Member for Botany.
“It’s going to be intensely competitive. I’m prepared for a fight and looking forward to it.”
Ms Barry said she wasn’t going in as the anointed candidate by National leadership, but believed her candidacy would attract support from many within parliament: “I expect I would have support form within the ranks of the sitting Members of Parliament and the leadership.”
The seat, made vacant by the resignation of Minister Pansy Wong, is a National stronghold. Ms Wong won the seat in 2008 with a majority of 11,397.
At least a dozen have signalled their intention to seek the National candidacy for the seat. Nominations closed at 4pm today.
Other potential candidates include Auckland councillor Jami-Lee Ross, former National candidate and Manukau City Councillor Ken Yee and restaurant owner and Botany electorate chair Ram Rai.
Matt Nippert
Tue, 11 Jan 2011
Tue, 11 Jan 2011
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Maggie Barry seeking National Party nomination for Botany byelection
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