Lees- Galloway has good year
Much has already been said about the political highs and lows of 2013 in a national sense, the falls of David Shearer, John Banks and Peter Dunne, the rise of Colin Craig and the redemption of David Cunliffe. But how did the political year pan out for the MPs representing the wider Manawatu?
It seems difficult to go past Palmerston North’s Iain Lees- Galloway as the top- performing politician from the Manawatu.
He backed the right horse in the Labour leadership race and was rewarded with the party’s junior whip position in return. He can also take some credit for the continued running of the Capital Connection, a campaign he was heavily involved in.
Inside Parliament he managed to influence legislation restricting the sale of synthetic cannabis and lowering the drink- driving limit. On the downside a series of reforms he proposed to new alcohol sale legislation was largely defeated in the House.
Next year Parliament will debate his private member’s bill that would make changes to the country’s MMP system, a bill that will lift his national profile further.
He could also face a tougher race than might have been expected to retain the seat he has held for the past five years.
There is potential for the 2014 election to involve two sitting MPs campaigning for Palmerston North, with National’s Joanne Hayes entering Parliament this month.
Ms Hayes was head of National’s Palmerston North branch so it seems logical for her to stand in the city.
Other than announcing her retirement it was a quiet year for Maori Party co- leader Tariana Turia.
The campaigning to replace her will get under way early this year. The Te Tai Hauauru candidates for Labour and the Maori Party have been chosen and you can expect them to have a presence at Ratana this month.
Labour has made a lot of noise about wanting to reclaim the Maori seats. It has a greater chance of doing that than it does of taking any additional Manawatu seats off National in 2014.
The National MPs in these parts, Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie, John Hayes in Wairarapa and Nathan Guy in Otaki all hold considerable majorities from the 2011 election.
Mr McKelvie and Mr Hayes have had quiet years in Parliament, such is the life of a government backbencher, while Mr Guy may want to forget 2013.
He was pilloried for proposals to change snapper catch limits in the upper North Island. He also faced accusations of being sidelined by those who thought the minister for primary industries should have had a bigger public role in the Government’s response to Fonterra’s milk- powder contamination scare.