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Robertson list-only at election

Glenn McConnell glenn.mcconnell@stuff.co.nz

Former deputy prime minister Grant Robertson says he won’t seek reelection as the MP for Wellington Central.

Instead, Robertson said he would stand as a list-only candidate this year.

Robertson has been finance minister since 2017, and served as deputy prime minister under Jacinda Ardern from 2020 to earlier this week.

He has held Wellington Central since he entered Parliament in 2008.

At the 2020 election, the Wellington electorate saw heavy hitters from the major parties go head-to-head, although it was clear Robertson would keep the seat. He was up against National’s Nicola Willis, who said she would stand in O¯ ha¯riu in 2023, and Greens co-leader James Shaw.

Given Wellington elected a Green mayor in Tory Whanau at the local government elections last year, Shaw’s chances of winning the Wellington seat could increase thanks to Robertson’s move to the Labour list.

In a statement, Shaw said he would be nominating himself to stand for the Green Party in Wellington again. The party’s Wellington branch was expected to make campaign decisions in the coming weeks. He also talked up the Greens’ chance of winning, saying: ‘‘The Green Party has more support in Wellington Central than any other electorate in Aotearoa.’’

Shaw said he had huge respect for Robertson’s work, balancing being an electorate MP and finance minister.

‘‘I will miss him on the campaign trail. It has been a privilege to campaign alongside him four times and to consider him a friend,’’ he said.

Robertson’s announcement meant two Labour MPs wouldn’t be standing again in their Wellington seats. Former deputy mayor and Rongotai MP Paul Eagle announced in December that he would retire from Parliament at this year’s election.

Labour Party general secretary Rob Salmond said nominations in most electorates would close on February 15. But the party could choose to extend the timeframe for Wellington Central, given Robertson’s announcement.

From there, the party’s national council and local branches would select their candidates.

While it’s still early days, Labour has two Wellington-based list MPs who could fill Robertson’s vacancy, and outsiders may also be interested in a seat so favourable for the Left.

Ibrahim Omer, who entered Parliament in 2020, already shared Robertson’s Wellington electorate office. He’s close to Robertson, and attempted to convince him to stand for prime minister when Ardern resigned.

Covid-19 Minister Ayesha Verrall is also a Wellingtonian, who also entered Parliament via the Labour list last election.

Robertson said that if re-elected, he would want to focus almost exclusively on his responsibilities as minister of finance.

‘‘As I contemplated this year’s election I thought about two previous ministers of finance. Sir Michael Cullen was a list MP while minister of finance and Sir Bill English became a list MP after six years as minister of finance,’’ Robertson said in a statement.

‘‘There is a reason for that. Being minister of finance is a huge job, and does often draw you away from electorate responsibilities.’’

National News

en-nz

2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281629604404627

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