Mallard’s bid for Speaker’s chair
Labour Party’ ’’attack dog’’ Trevor Mallard is hoping to become a parliamentary policeman.
The long-serving MP has announced he will not seek reelection for Hutt South in a bid to win the Speaker’s job after the 2017 election.
Having enjoyed being assistant speaker, he wants the top job and will seek a spot on Labour’s list.
‘‘It has been a bit of a change for me. I’ve had to move away from being a bit of an attack dog to being seen to be non-partisan. What has become clear is that it is hard to be an effective electorate MP and chair the House in an unbiased manner.’’
He likens the being Speaker to refereeing your own rugby team.
‘‘I really love the electorate work … it is really hard to be one minute asking a minister to do something for your electorate and the next minute being strict and making sure they are following the rules.’’
Labour extensively polled and despite National MP Chris Bishop’s high profile, Mallard was confident Labour would hold the seat.
But Bishop recently opened an office in Wainuiomata and believes he can win.
Mallard would not speculate who the next Labour candidate was likely to be.
He also wanted to ensure there was new blood for Labour.
Mallard had been an MP for 30 years and said there had been little change among Wellington MPs in recent years.
Mallard said he had been thinking about standing down since Christmas.
Comments on his Facebook page include one from Noeline Colman, whose husband Fraser Colman held the seat from 1978 to 1987.
‘‘That is a shock to the system Trevor. All the best.’’
Mallard intends to stay in Wainuiomata and maintain his profile in the electorate.
National List MP Chris Bishop is taking a generous approach to news that Mallard is not seeking re-election in Hutt South.
Mallard had been a long serving and hard working MP for the area, he said.
‘‘I just need to pay tribute to his years of long service. He has been a very staunch advocate for the Hutt Valley and most people would agree he has been a good MP.’’
Bishop noted that for Mallard to become Speaker, Labour would have to win the election.
Mallard impressed him as deputy speaker. ’’You could not fault him.’’
One person taking a keen interest is 25 year-old Campbell Barry. The Wainuiomata Ward city councillor has a high profile and is interested in standing.
In the 2014 election Mallard received 16,825 votes, Bishop 16,127 and Green MP Holly Walker 3207.