There is an interesting contest for the candidacy for what should be a safe Labour seat New Lynn electorate being left vacant by David Cunliffe. Six people have put themselves forward:
- Deborah Russell
- Greg Presland
- Christine Faumuina
- Owen Gill
- Sunny Kaushal
- Susan Zhu
Deborah Russell is highly rated and would be a good addition the Labour’s caucus. She stood for Labour in Rangitikei last election and has moved up to Auckland to try to get the New Lynn nomination – being an outsider could count against her, Michael Wood played the ‘local’ card strongly in the Mt Roskill by-election.
Greg Presland has been involved in New Lynn campaigns for many years, has also helped Cunliffe in his leadership bids, one of which was successful. He has also been very involved in local body and community affairs. He should get strong local support but being male may work against him in the head office push for more female MPs.
One of these two look the most likely contenders.
Russell was 33 on Labour’s list last election but due to Labour’s poor result she missed out by a big margin – Andrew Little was the last in off the Labour list, ranked 11, and there were about eight others on the list before Russell who missed out.
So the promise of a reasonable list position will guarantee nothing, and getting the nomination for New Lynn should lead to a few tens in parliament if the successful candidate wants that.
Absent from the contenders is Laila Harre, who was mentioned as a possible candidate, but against two who have well established records with Labour she would have been an unlikely choice. She has been involved in the Alliance Party (as an MP), the Green Party and as leader of the Internet party last election.
It looks good for Labour to have keenly contested nominations. They could really do with fresh new talent.
Your NZ 
dave1924
/ 25th January 2017If Presland is not in with HQ he is toast. It only takes the 3 head office votes plus one local local elector to win the seat for a candidate.
Russell will win, unless the LEC’s 3 votes go with the local guy and the floor vote can be swayed for Presland.
Be interesting to see who can get the most eligible people to turn up to the meeting and swing the elector from the meeting floor decision…
Pete George
/ 25th January 2017I had presumed that there was party support for Russell to have moved to Auckland to go for the nomination so was surprised to see Presland in the mix as well.
It almost looks like a deliberate local challenge of party HQ.
The HQ candidate won when something similar happened in Lower Hutt.
dave1924
/ 25th January 2017In Hutt South, my electorate, the Party HQ foisted a candidate on the locals. Virginia Anderson is a policy manager at NZ Police and has contested Ohariu last couple of go rounds for Labour.
Petone, then Pecarrow, then Hutt South has been solid Red for decades going back to the first election I remember in 1972 – Fraser Coleman was the Labour MP and a decent bloke.
He was pensioned off and the seat gifted to Sonja Davies in a similar manner to this latest move. And as with the Bread and Roses candidate this latest move by Labour was over the strong preference of locals for a local candidate in Campbell Barry. The Davies move split the local Labour LEC with a lot unhappiness over the party HQ move, I wonder if this foisting of a Silverstream candidate on Hutt South will do something similar.
artcroft
/ 25th January 2017I think Russell is the much better candidate. Her CV reads well and she has also been on Q&A a few times so has media exposure.
Conspiratoor
/ 25th January 2017‘Her CV reads well’. Sure arty, if your buzz is a chardonnay sipping socialist with no real world experience outside institutions and the pubic trough. Helen Clark reincarnate
Pete George
/ 25th January 2017She would stand out in Labour with her knowledge of tax, business and economic policy.
Conspiratoor
/ 25th January 2017yes pg but has she ever … oh never mind
Pete George
/ 25th January 2017Parties need MPs with a range of experience. You can’t expect every MP to have to whole range you want.
Presland has been in business – a legal practice – for yonks I think. He could also make a good MP, but I doubt whether he would have a chance on the list.
Conspiratoor
/ 25th January 2017How many of them have ever produced anything, employed people, created wealth, generated export revenue? 2? 3?
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017They need somebody who understands economics, has some intellectual grunt, & a modicum of sex appeal in the right light. National has had Muzza up until recently. All they have is Grant or Parker.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 25th January 2017Russell will be just another Lefty who knows how to tax but doesn’t know how to earn.
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017@ Al, run with a moment – your life depends on ANY improvement in fortunes of Labour. There is a large revolver pointed at your head. You must make a choice within a 10 second count.
Presland or Russell?
Suicide is not an option. You have a wife & dogs who love you.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 25th January 2017I wouldn’t trust Presland to boil an egg so it has to be Russell given that choice. Then I would be out looking for good odds on another Nat win.
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017Thank you. I win again. Six on the board for me so far this year. You have two.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 25th January 2017Don’t be ridiculous, G. No-one with half a brain would want to stand for Labour. You ask me to choose between a lunatic and a dogmatic simpleton and then claim to have won something. A prize for pointlessness perhaps.
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017yup.
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017Your trouble is you give up too easily & just slink away when the going gets tuff. Ask Sir Alan. See if he agrees with me.
Conspiratoor
/ 25th January 2017I’m a player not a stayer G. This is not a place for serious discourse. I have gab for that. Cheers,c
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017Yeah but you have to say something like that now, don’t ya?. Good to see you putting in a bit of effort above now, with PG.
Conspiratoor
/ 25th January 2017I shouldn’t have to G. There are enough right thinking folks around to knock this rubbish down. Where is Sir Al? Accounts?
Alan Wilkinson
/ 25th January 2017Been out for a few hours killing weeds and walking dogs and horses. Then dinner. Accounts had a bad day.
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017Trump futures are volatile at the moment Al. The market will settle soon.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 25th January 2017Yes, a shame the bureaucrats shut down iPredict, G, else there would be money to be made.
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017Yep, I’d go with Debs. Suggested slogan: “You don’t want spin, You want to win”.
seanjm72
/ 25th January 2017“ your in for a tussle, its deborah russell “ would be better
Conspiratoor
/ 25th January 2017I’m Helen’s love muscle, Deborah Russell
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017The below is to sean, porno boy.
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017I’ll up tick yours if you up tick mine.
Conspiratoor
/ 25th January 2017I have a delightful story about the tick fetish on this blog G. Remind me to bore you with it some time, later when the kids are in bed
patupaiarehe
/ 25th January 2017While you’re at it C, feel free to finish that other story…
traveller
/ 25th January 2017I don’t like her, but then I can’t stomach her brand of self righteous, born to rule public servant type. I’d go for Presland, he’s a local, well versed on local issues, been on various community boards and has a high profile.
Gezza
/ 25th January 2017Food for thought trav. I only know a little bit of him as a sort of backstage manager for a party whose leaders haven’t been doing well.
traveller
/ 26th January 2017Yes, as I said I’d go for him 😅😅😅😅
I’m not to be trusted with recommendations as I’m so partisan. Dyed in the wool etcetera