Hutt South could elect three MPs
The Hutt South electorate could end up with three MPs, with Labour’s Ginny Andersen being ranked 27 on the party’s list.
Although it is impossible to predict how many votes Labour needs for Andersen and outgoing Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard to be elected, blogger David Farrar has set the figure at 29 and 32 per cent respectively.
That figure depends on what electorate seats Labour wins or loses, but Andersen and Mallard believe it is right.
Andersen is in a scrap with National list MP Chris Bishop, who has been campaigning for two years to win Hutt South.
For Mallard, being ranked at No 32 could be seen as a negative signal but he is upbeat about his chances. Having been in Parliament for so long, he is stepping down as an electorate MP but has made no secret of his desire to be Speaker.
For that to happen, Labour needs to win and he does not want to be an Opposition MP. ‘‘I have been in Parliament for 30 years, half of which I have been in Opposition and I have had enough.’’
Andersen sees her relatively high list placing as an endorsement by the party. In 2014, she stood in Oharui, losing to UnitedFuture’s Peter Dunne by only 710 votes.
This time, she is determined to win Hutt South, where she has a tough fight on her hands to beat Bishop.
National does not announce its list until July 30 but with Bishop’s star clearly on the rise, he will be looking at improving his 2014 list position of 49.
Bishop and Andersen agreed the fight was on for Hutt South. Both have been campaigning strongly and believed they were the person to succeed Mallard.
Andersen felt that Bishop was on the back foot due to anger in the electorate over housing. Residents she spoke to while doorknocking were concerned by vacant Housing New Zealand land and the rapidly rising cost of homes.
Bishop acknowledged that hou- sing was an issue but denied it was all doom and gloom.
He pointed to the success of the Government’s HomeStart initiative, which was announced two years ago by then prime minister John Key.
‘‘So far, in the Hutt Valley, the HomeStart scheme has helped 1522 people buy their first homes, with grants totalling $7,031,000.’’
Housing was not the only topic raised with him, Bishop said, adding that improving transport was another big issue in the Hutt.
Andersen said what had surprised her most, was older residents who were worried that their grandchildren would never be able to buy a home.
Hutt South Greens candidate Susanne Ruthven is ranked at No 24 on her party’s initial list and is unlikely to get into Parliament.