National split over mayoralty contest
The National Party is divided over whether to run a candidate against Phil Goff in next year’s Auckland mayoralty race.
The row is pitting grassroots members against the party hierarchy as they head into their annual conference this weekend.
Members at the recent Northern regional conference voted overwhelmingly for a remit to consider standing local candidates under the National Party brand.
And all members will be asked to vote on the idea at Saturday’s Sky City conference in Auckland. Insiders say the issue is being ‘‘hotly debated’’.
One insider said: ‘‘There’s lots of rumours flying among members that Goff isn’t going to run and Labour will put up someone popular like Helen Clark. And even if he doesn’t run they believe he is really vulnerable and a good Centre-Right challenger could do very well.’’
National MP for Papakura Judith Collins is a favourite among members, but isn’t thought to be interested. Former finance minister Steven Joyce is also on members’ wish lists.
The party faithful are also keen to harness National’s considerable fundraising power.
The regional remit passed with only two dissenting votes, and delegates are now gearing up for a tussle.
But most MPs and the party’s board are opposed to the idea, because there is no obvious candidate for mayor and a risk of damaging the brand with infighting.
One MP told Stuff: ‘‘The personalities are so different and quite entrenched in their local area. Trying to bring them together immediately is too difficult. ‘‘Our brand . . . is one around unity and discipline. If you had National Party city councillors running off and weren’t under the control of the parliamentary whip, there’s a risk there.
‘‘And, if National just tried to launch in there and not everyone is on board, you’d get a split and National wouldn’t do well – and that’s only a year before the general election. That’s also a risk.’’
The MP said National’s board aren’t actively looking for a mayoral candidate.
‘‘If there wasn’t a strong candidate with a personality that could raise a lot of money, Goff would still win.’’
Even if the remit passes, the idea is not likely to go anywhere before next year’s local body elections.
‘‘Like with every remit, we go away and do our homework and assess the right way to implement what the members want. It is a good way for members to express their views, but we do have an established understanding that remits don’t just automatically become policy.’’
There was a half-hearted bid to establish a Centre-Right group under the Auckland Future brand in 2016 – and tensions surfaced immediately. Auckland MP Nikki Kaye, former presidents Sue Wood and Michelle Boag, and campaigner Hamish Price were behind the move – but there was little support from the caucus and party board.
The campaign wasn’t linked to Vic Crone’s failed bid for the mayoralty in 2016. And they were pitted against the Right-leaning Communities and Residents group – who fielded two successful candidates.