Local Labour team backing new leaders
The region’s Labour MPs are backing the party’s new leadership team of Jacinda Ardern and Kelvin Davis.
After a chaotic few days following poor poll results, Labour leader Andrew Little stepped down yesterday morning. He endorsed his deputy Ardern and Northland MP Davis who were elected unopposed by the parliamentary caucus.
Nelson Labour candidate Rachel Boyack said the new faces at the helm provided an ‘‘exciting new leadership team’’ for the party.
Boyack said she was confident the change in leadership presented an opportunity, not a disadvantage.
‘‘We have seven weeks [before the election], that’s a long time in politics, and Jacinda is very well known to people,’’ she said.
‘‘I thought she gave an outstanding performance [accepting
Boyack said she admired the loyalty Little had given to Labour.
‘‘I know that he has put his all into it. He’s worked exceptionally hard, he’s a very good man with a lot of integrity and he’ll still continue to play a role within the Labour party.’’
West-Coast Tasman MP Damien O’Connor said ‘‘this is politics’’, when asked how he felt about the changes, but said he was optimistic about the new team.
‘‘This presents an exciting opportunity for Labour and the response has been very positive,’’ O’Connor said.
He said it followed what had clearly been a difficult time for both caucus and Andrew Little.
‘‘I’ve always been happy to support the leadership team whoever they are,’’ he said. ‘‘[Little] committed everything to the role and in the end he made the call for the good of the party... [It was a] tough call made by someone who is tough, and he will expect us to get on and make the most of the opportunities in front of us.’’