Labour’s three-way fight for Hutt South
Three aspiring Labour politicians have put their hands up for what could be one of the most closely watched scraps at the next general election.
Nominations for the Labour Party’s 2017 Hutt South candidate have closed, with Virginia Andersen, Campbell Barry, and Sarah Packer putting their names forward.
Barry was re-elected on Saturday as a Wainuiomata ward councillor on Hutt City Council; Andersen was Labour’s candidate in Ohariu against Peter Dunne in 2014; and Packer is a newcomer to politics with firsthand experience of homelessness.
Labour Party general secretary Andrew Kirton hoped Labour would hold the seat at the next election.
He was confident the candidate selected would have strong backing from the community in the battle against National’s Chris Bishop, who is currently a list MP.
‘‘It’s going to be a tough election, there’s a formidable opponent there in Mr Bishop, but we think we can work hard and earn the votes of the local voters there.
‘‘We’re definitely taking nothing for granted in Hutt South.’’
Anderson, a police policy unit manager and a Labour Party vicepresident, said she came about as close to winning the Ohariu electorate at the last election as Chris Bishop came to winning Hutt South.
‘‘I’d say I probably had a lot less resources than Chris Bishop did.’’
Andersen, who lives in Silverstream, said she wanted to stand in an electorate closer to home next year. ’’It will be a good fight, but I think it’s easily winnable with the right candidate.’’
Andersen said Trevor Mallard left big shoes to fill but he would be a huge asset to help out on the campaign trail.
Barry said Bishop was ‘‘promoting himself extremely well’’, which was why a candidate with a strong local profile was needed.
‘‘That is one of the big factors why I’ve decided to put my name in the ring. For me, it’s about keeping Hutt South Labour and putting up the best possible fight to keep that seat.’’
If selected, he said he would consider running for the seat only and not trying to get on the Labour Party list, as Mallard had in 2014.
‘‘I don’t want it to be any other way. I wouldn’t want to come through the back door.’’
For Packer, issues around social housing are more than just policy interests - they’re real struggles she and her children have lived through.
In December 2013 her Elderslea home was destroyed by fire, although she and her two daughters managed to escape the blaze.
‘‘Partly why I’m going for the nomination is because I understand what it’s like to be homeless.’’
At the time she was a beneficiary and found it hard to get into suitable temporary accommodation. Packer ended up being able to live over the school holidays that summer at the special needs unit at Upper Hutt School. It was ‘‘shocking’’ and ‘‘disgraceful’’ that Work and Income were not able to help when she sought temporary housing.
Packer now worked as an office administrator in Upper Hutt and wanted to be a voice in Parliament for people facing similar challenges.
Bishop, who lost to Mallard by just 709 votes in 2014, said he was sure Labour would run a strong campaign.
‘‘I’ve been working hard for two years as a list MP in the Hutt and I’m looking forward to running a positive and energetic campaign next year.’’
The outcome of the selection process will be known at the end of the month.