National’s Willis to stand for Ohāriu in 2023

The deputy leader of the National Party Nicola Willis is set to go head-to-head with Labour’s Greg O’Connor in the key Wellington electorate of hāriu at next year’s general election.

Willis, who is also National’s finance spokesperson and list MP, made the announcement today.

Labour Party incumbent MP Greg O’Connor won his second term as electorate MP in 2020 with a 12,000 vote majority, more than double the National candidate Brett Hudson’s tally.

Willis said she was going to be focused on the issues affecting the electorate and the city and was not interested in criticising O’Connor and his tenure.

Willis and her family were not residents of the electorate but lived nearby in the Wellington suburb of Karori.

‘‘I spend a lot of time in the electorate of hāriu and have had a lot to do with the constituents,’’ she said. ‘‘I have said from my maiden speech in Parliament that I want to be a representative for Wellingtonians. Standing for hāriu gives me that opportunity.’’

The electorate covered the section of city between Crofton Downs and southern Tawa, including Ngaio, Khandallah, Johnsonville and Newlands.

The constituency was both young and wealthy, according to its Wikipedia profile. It had the largest number of 30 to 49 year olds in the country, and the second-highest number of families earning between $70,000 and $100,000 per year.

‘‘Full of people who are working really hard for their future, but are finding it really tough at the moment,’’ Willis said.

O’Connor said, with the support of his party, he intended to run in next year’s election.

He felt he had gained a good understanding of hāriu and earned ‘‘good bones in the electorate’’ while serving as its MP since 2017.

Willis acknowledged she would have her work cut out against O’Connor.

‘‘I’m humble about the size of the challenge and the fact that that is a very steep mountain to climb, but I’m up for a challenge,’’ Willis said.

With the National Party polling more strongly than two years ago, Willis was keen to attract as much of the party vote as shēO could in her campaign.

She said as National’s finance spokesperson, New Zealanders’ economic prospects would be a priority.

‘‘People in hāriu are staringŌ down the barrel of massive increases in their mortgage payments, a rising cost of living and increasing financial insecurity, and I know National has plans to address¯thoseO things.’’

Specific localŌissues Willis wanted to take up for the electorate included improving public transport.