Little opts for party list over Rongotai

Labour leader Andrew Little is to run as a list-only candidate in this year’s general election, opening the way for Wellington City councillor Paul Eagle to win the party’s nomination for the Rongotai seat.

His decision means the leaders of the two biggest parties – Little and Prime Minister Bill English – will not contest constituencies, although the heads of all the other parties in Parliament have signalled they will stand in electorates.

Little has previously lost in the New Plymouth seat twice to National’s Jonathan Young, but it’s long been rumoured that he may seek to stand in deputy leader Annette King’s Rongotai seat, where he lives, if she stood down – a decision she made late last year.

He formally told his fellow MPs of his decision yesterday at a caucus retreat in the Wairarapa.

‘‘I’ve told them I will be a listonly candidate. I’m not seeking nomination or selection for any seat,’’ Little said.

‘‘Leading a general election campaign, I need the flexibility I have had for the last two years of being able to be, in effect, anywhere anytime.’’

At the leadership level, you were ‘‘MP for the whole of New Zealand’’ and that was the way he saw the job.

Little believed he could have won Rongotai, with hard work. But he appeared less confident while in New Plymouth. He said his energy and focus had to be on the country-wide campaign.

The roles of leader, deputy and finance required a focus on the needs of that office rather than being tied to a particular electorate, Little explained.

Finance spokesman Grant Robertson ‘‘fortunately’’ had a seat in the capital – the Wellington Central seat.

Little said Eagle, who has confirmed he is considering contesting Rongotai, was the leading contender, though the Labour leader did not know who else might be interested.

Eagle, 44, was appointed Wellington’s deputy mayor when Justin Lester won the capital’s mayoralty in October.

He had won council elections, organised well, and was a very strong identity with good connections in the area, Little said.

‘‘He has got everything you would need for a good, effective MP.’’

King, who holds the seat with a majority of more than 9000, will stand only on the party’s list.

As leader, you are ‘MP for the whole of New Zealand’. Labour’s Andrew Little