Jo versus Jo in campaign for Rangitata

A political newcomer will face off against a four-term MP in the battle to represent the Rangitata electorate following the 2017 general election.

With the recent confirmation that incumbent MP Jo Goodhew will once again contest the election as the National Party’s candidate, the campaign for the electorate has begun in earnest.

She will face off against newcomer Jo Luxton, a Hinds early childhood centre owner who will represent the Labour Party.

The start of the campaign marks a bid by Labour to re-build in the electorate following a controversial run in 2014, while Goodhew will seek to win a fifth term in the job.

Goodhew,a former nurse, said she still ‘‘absolutely loved’’ her job, and it was that enthusiasm that prompted her to stand again.

‘‘I get an enormous sense of pride and satisfaction out of being able to help individuals and families,’’ she said.

‘‘While I’m still feeling that way, I thought I should have another go.’’

A challenge for Goodhew would be convincing voters she still had fresh ideas to bring to the table after 12 years in the job.

It was a challenge that was also facing the Government, she said.

‘‘I think we still have a lot of work to do and we still have new ideas,’’ she said.

In her current term, Goodhew has served as Minister for Food Safety, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Associate Minister for Social Development and Associate Minister for Primary Industries.

For her opponent, the challenge was learning on the campaign trail and getting people to know her.

Luxton has politics in the blood- her aunt is the daughter of former prime minister Norman Kirk.

Despite her family background, she said running in her first election would be a challenge.

‘‘Jo has been in the job a really long time and I’m new,’’ she said.

‘‘I’m really keen to get out there and work really hard and get to know people.’’

Luxton acknowledged she would have to work hard to make up the ground lost following Labour’s controversial campaign in Rangitata in the last election.

Labour candidate Steve Gibson lost the support of the party after making several contentious statements, including calling Prime Minister John Key ‘‘Shylock’’.

Gibson lost the seat to Goodhew by 14,107 votes, which more than doubled her previous victory margin.

‘‘It makes this coming election a lot more challenging,’’ Luxton said.

‘‘But I’m not going in all starry-eyed, I know it’s going to be hard.’’

If she was unsuccessful in 2017, Luxton said she would seek the candidacy again in the following election.

Being in the public eye was also a challenge she was already having to learn to cope with.

She had heard the contest in Rangitata referred to as ‘the battle of the babes’.

‘‘My answer to that is, actually I work hard and I’m intelligent and a good communicator, regardless of whether you think I’m attractive or not.’’

Both candidates agreed attracting people with the right skills to the region would be an important election issue.

Goodhew believed boosting small businesses would also be a hot topic, while Luxton said water would also come up.

The date of the 2017 general election has yet to be announced.