NATIONAL MPs AT RISK

The latest 1News Verian poll will be a concern for National’s five list MPs, including senior ministers Nicola Willis and Paul Goldsmith, and Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee.

The poll shows National slumping to 29% support, down from 38% on election night in 2023. At that level, the party would be entitled to 37 seats in Parliament, a loss of 11 from its current total of 48 seats (43 electorate MPs and five list MPs).

BUDD’S BID

National has selected Lloyd Budd as its candidate for the Whangārei electorate in the November election. Budd will replace the retiring Shane Reti, who has held the seat for all but one parliamentary term since 2014.

Budd is presenting his candidacy as something of a homecoming. The 43-year-old grew up in Whangārei before pursuing a career in real estate in Auckland and overseas, including serving as chief executive of Bayleys Auckland. His father, Mike Budd, stood for the Whangārei mayoralty in 2022.

Reti dumped from health

Local MP, Dr Shane Reti has been dumped from his health portfolio. In the first major cabinet reshuffle since gaining office, the PM said, “Kiwis’…expect to see even more progress – ensuring they can access the care they need when they need it. To deliver on that expectation, I have decided Simeon Brown will become Minister of Health.”

Clearly, the PM thought that was not possible with Dr Reti in charge. Dr Reti will take the Science and Innovation portfolio and remain in cabinet. Losing health will be a major blow, more so as he has “owned” the portfolio for many years, long before National became government.

The obvious question now is does Dr Reti have a future in politics? Will he be content warming the seat in lesser ministerial roles or will he call it quits at the next election and return to medicine?

Covid Inquiry Expanded

 

NZ First has delivered on the promises it made to anti-mandate protesters and others. Their coalition agreement with National states it will: 

• End all Covid-19 vaccine mandates still in operation.

Marsden Point - Coalition Agreement

 

The Coalition agreement between National and NZ First has a lot to say about Marsden Point, including an agreement to:

• "Investigate the reopening of Marsden Point Refinery. This includes establishing a Fuel Security Plan.
  
  
• Progress further work examining connecting the railway to Marsden Point and Northport from the Northern Main Trunk Line.
  
  
• Progress the detailed business case for a dry dock at Marsden Point to service domestic and international shipping needs and to support our Navy vessels, with investigation of funding options including commercial partnerships.”

For the full coalition agreement between National and NZ First see Here >>>

Act and National say they would repeal Maori wards on local councils

Maori wards on local councils would be abolished, should National and Act form a government on 14 October.

Maori wards on local councils would be abolished, should National and Act form a government on 14 October.

A question to Chris Luxon

 

Democracy Northland has asked Chris Luxon, the leader of the National Party, the following question:

Should your party be in a position to do so after the October election, would it reinstate sections 19ZA to 19ZG of the Local Electoral Act 2001?

 By way of background, those sections were repealed by section 7 of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021

The effect was to remove the right of electors (the people) to petition their local council to force a binding referendum about the introduction of Maori wards/constituencies. The Labour Party (Nanaia Mahuta as the then Minister of Local Government) removed that right retrospectively.   

Here is Chris Luxon's reply: