Willis says she never considered running in Kaipara ki Mahurangi
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she never considered standing in the safe National seat of Kaipara ki Mahurangi. RNZ reported that Willis said this when asked on Monday, and that running in the electorate was never an option for her.
Willis said moving to Auckland to stand in the seat was not an option for her family. She has four children, three in secondary school and one in primary school.
Kaipara ki Mahurangi was previously held, under a different name, by former National leader and prime minister Sir John Key. Its current candidate for National is Jessica Rowe, who replaces Chris Penk. National's website describes Rowe as a former journalist and foreign policy officer.
Penk, who has been a National MP, will not seek re-election in November. RNZ reported in August that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had stripped him of his ministerial portfolios, and that he had decided not to stand again. Newsroom reported that Luxon sacked Penk from Cabinet after a failed leadership plot.
Later in August, 1News reported that Penk would not confirm or deny leading a move against Luxon. Luxon went on to win a leadership vote after a challenge against him failed.
Willis said she is campaigning for party votes across the country, so that National can lead the next government. Under New Zealand's voting system, party votes are the ballot cast for a party rather than a local candidate.
