Party keeps campaign distance
The Labour Party will not be endorsing a candidate for February’s Palmerston North city councillor by-election, but nominee Andy Asquith is claiming the label ‘‘Independent Labour’’ anyway.
Asquith, a Massey University academic and local government commentator, raised the ire of the party when he ran for mayor and council last year under the same banner.
Labour Party Central North Island regional representative Mark Andrew has once again been quick to distance the party from Asquith’s campaign.
‘‘Despite self-chosen labels some candidates may choose, the Labour Party is not, and will not, be endorsing or supporting any candidate.’’
Asquith said calling himself Independent Labour reflected where his social values lay.
‘‘None of us voted ‘ independent’ in the recent general election.’’
The success of former deputy mayor Tangi Utikere in winning the Palmerston North parliamentary seat for Labour and his resignation from the council had sparked the need for a councillor by-election.
Asquith said he would be recycling the same election signs he used last time, because he could not afford to buy new ones each time he contested an election.
He said his chosen label was fine with the electoral officer Warwick Lampp of Electionz. com, so was fine with him.
He was surprised the Labour Party would not be endorsing a candidate.
‘‘I thought they might back someone to replace Tangi [Utikere], although he was never a Labour councillor.’’
Andrew said the party was ‘‘encouraged by the enthusiasm of people standing to represent our city’’ and would concentrate on supporting elected representatives it had already endorsed.
Labour formally re-introduced the concept of party endorsements for the city council in 2016 after several decades without the practice in Palmerston North.
It was successful that year in having Lorna Johnson elected, followed by Zulfiqar Butt last year.
The Greens followed suit, with Brent Barrett elected in 2016 and Renee Dingwall joining him last year.
For the by-election, they have selected Vanessa Rozenberg as their candidate.
The National Party has not joined the trend.
Unsuccessful National Party candidate at the general election William Wood is contesting the councillor by-election, but not on a party ticket.
Asquith, who was the highestpolling unsuccessful candidate for the city council last year, said he was standing to ensure voters had a choice between ‘‘credible candidates’’.
He came with more than 35 years’ experience in researching and teaching about local government leadership.
He is often used as a media commentator at a national level, most recently discussing problems with the Invercargill and Tauranga councils.
Asquith wanted to see the Palmerston North City Council making a better job of consulting, involving and listening to its community, and being more transparent about its decision-making.