ACT swipes ex Nat MP

Former National Party MP Parmjeet Parmar will be standing for ACT at the election.

Parmar said ACT was ‘‘often the only party asking the hard questions and thinking long-term about the changes that are needed in New Zealand to lift us up as a country’’.

‘‘I am grateful for the opportunity

ACT has given me to help to make real change, to contribute new ideas, new policy, that will make a difference to New Zealand’s future.’’

The statement goes on: ‘‘Ms Parmer [sic] said: As a scientist I have always taken an evidence-based approach and I see the same in ACT.’’ The statement spells Parmar’s name incorrectly.

Earlier this month, ACT took highprofile Manawatu¯ dairy farmer and former Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard as a candidate. Federated Farmers has historically been close with National.

ACT leader David Seymour said Parmar was ‘‘a woman of principles, a scholar and a successful businesswoman. She will be a great addition to the ACT team, and I look forward to working with her to make New Zealand a better place. I expect ACT’s board to give her a high list placing and to select her to stand in the Pakuranga electorate’’.

National MP Simeon Brown holds the Pakuranga electorate.