Luxon may vie for National electorate
Sources within the National Party believe Christopher Luxon is being groomed for Paula Bennett’s Upper Harbour seat.
Yesterday, Bennett announced she would seek re-election through the party’s list after becoming the campaign chair for the 2020 general election.
‘‘Being campaign chair is a massive commitment and one I want to give 100 per cent of myself to; as such I won’t be seeking reelection as the MP for Upper Harbour but will be on the National Party’s list,’’ Bennett said.
‘‘I have had tremendous support from the Upper Harbour electorate and from the seat of Waitakere before that. I believe Upper Harbour deserves a candidate who is completely focused on them and being list only will allow me to run an energised, newlook campaign that is focused on New Zealanders and their lives.’’
Luxon, the outgoing Air New Zealand chief executive, has been closely linked to the party since announcing his decision to step down from the airline in June.
In a recent One News Colmar Brunton poll, Luxon ranked at 1 per cent as the preferred prime minister. Party leader Simon Bridges and MP Judith Collins were on 6 per cent.
It has been widely rumoured that Luxon is planning to move to politics, potentially running for National in the Botany electorate.
However, it is understood that he is now not keen on this option because it would be against former National MP Jamilee Ross.
There was also speculation Luxon was interested in the Selwyn electorate, which was created in 2007.
National MP Amy Adams has been the MP since 2008, where she enjoys the largest margin in the country. She announced in June that she would step down at the 2020 election.
The reason why Bennett’s seat is the most attractive option is that party rules would let Luxon be parachuted in by the National Party board rather than face a bruising selection process.
In an electorate with fewer than 200 members, the board screens nominations and puts forward the best candidate. It’s understood Upper Harbour fits this criteria. If there are more than 200 members in an electorate, there would be a grassroots selection that would see members vote for their candidate choice. It is understood some members within the party would prefer Luxon, as an outsider, to go through this process in order to prove himself to the membership. A National spokesman said the party did not comment on membership issues.
‘‘We are always looking for good candidates and, in the next while, people will come forward and the best possible people will be put forward for candidacy. That process will be concluded by the end of the year.’’