Byelection will be scrap — Ardern

The Botany byelection will be a “scrap that will have a different dynamic” than usual, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

Although she said Labour has not yet selected a candidate, she is not sounding optimistic about winning back the traditionally Blue seat.

“There is no doubt this is going to be a scrap that will have a different dynamic to it,” Ardern said.

“Whether or not that will result in a shift [in the electorate] over to our direction is very unlikely.”

The resignation of National MP Jami-Lee Ross yesterday triggered the byelection. Ross said he would run as an independent.

In last year’s election, the MP won the electorate by a significant margin – 21,400 votes to the Labour candidate’s 8500.

It was a similar result in 2014. Ross said yesterday: “I’m confident I can run on a track record of 15 years.”

Ardern said Botany has traditionally been a strong National seat.

“This, however, is going to be an interesting byelection to say the least.”

Ardern said she will be having conversations with the Labour Party about “what they would like to do in this race”.

Greens co-leader James Shaw said whether or not the party stands a candidate is up to its executive. “We haven’t even begun to examine that,” but he adds that it is being considered.

NZ First leader Winston Peters said his party has not made a decision about standing a candidate yet.

“We always make those decisions on the basis of the caucus – it’s party discussions which we haven’t had.

ACT leader David Seymour said the party would probably stand a candidate, but it was up to the board as to who that will be.