Labour’s list of candidates for 2017

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1. lprent 1

   2 May 2017 at 8:01 am

   Looks like a good list. Keeps some crucial ministerial and country wide campaigning cadre in high list positions in case of unexpected.

   It generally keeps MPs or candidates in winnable or safe seats in list positions where the list is unlikely to provide them a safe haven..

   Should bring a few new interesting new regional candidates with relevant experience into the house so that Labour isn’t just a urban party. If they survive the experience they should be useful in another few terms.

   Should disappoint a lot of people like Willie Jackson who seemed to think that he was god’s gift for the party members. But who lacks relevant experience and seems to carry a lot of baggage. 21 is a good position and I can’t see why he was whining about it. Part of the baggage is his bloody noisy and noisome dickhead mates and supporters. They are enough to put anyone off.

   But generally it looks like a good list for the party to go into an election with.

   More importantly from my personal perspective, it does not piss me off enough to vote Green again.
2. Wonderpup 2

   2 May 2017 at 8:13 am

   Great to see David Clark up there too. When people complain that pollies are a bunch of lying self serving trough feeders, he’s my go to example of exactly the opposite. I’ll be proud to support this lot with my party vote.
   • lprent 2.1

     2 May 2017 at 8:29 am

     Yeah. He is a prime candidate for a ministerial position. But I suspect he will continue to do a lot of campaigning this year. The sincerity just drips off him 😈 and that is almost a a compliment (I’m not great on complimenting people).

     I suspect that you’re looking at the cabinet core in the first ten.
3. dukeofurl 3

   2 May 2017 at 8:16 am

   Would be nice to see a little potted bio of the ‘new’ names to go with it

   http://www.labour.org.nz/2017candidates
   • lprent 3.1

     2 May 2017 at 8:24 am

     I just googled names for ones I didn’t know
   • Jenny Kirk 3.2

     2 May 2017 at 9:22 am

     There IS a little bio of the new names, dukeofurl, attached to Labour’s media release about its List. Not Labour’s fault if the media don’t choose to publish it, but RadioNZ have done so.
     • lprent 3.2.1

       2 May 2017 at 10:09 am

       Pete George stuck it in an Open Mike… I have linked it into the post.
     • Tarquin 3.2.2

       2 May 2017 at 10:13 am

       Hope Willow Jean gets in, the more Northlanders the better and she seems like the kind of person we need.
       • mickysavage 3.2.2.1

         2 May 2017 at 12:02 pm

         She should be a shoe in. I agree she will shake the place up.
         • Tarquin 3.2.2.1.1

           2 May 2017 at 1:58 pm

           I’m a bit more on the partisan side, I don’t so much care about the party as the numbers – as long as it’s not Hone!
4. Pete 4

   2 May 2017 at 8:17 am

   I see the Herald has it’s regular Mike’s Minute titled “Labour’s List another bungle.”

   I have to admit I never look at his bits so I’ll have to guess that in the minute he gets all orgasmic.
   • Whispering Kate 4.1

     2 May 2017 at 10:58 am

     They have a one man band who does the sport on the AM show on TV3 plugging away every morning about how crap Labour is or disorganised or whatever other negative thing he can think of – even had the nerve to say that the disclosure of the video of the Pike Mine entry was just an election ploy by Labour to disrupt National’s chances this election year. I couldn’t believe how such a disgraceful attitude could be tolerated on air – disgraceful for the lost miners and their families.

     There seriously needs to be some balance put in place, especially being election year on our Free to Air TV – isn’t there some law in our statutes that insists that this be rectified in election year?
   • mickysavage 4.2

     2 May 2017 at 12:06 pm

     Im getting rather tired of the framing. The labour process is complex and democratically run in that members get a vote and the decision is made by New Zealand Council which is elected. Of course the decision making and publication is complex.

     In National’w world things are so much simpler, get the Board to decree what the list will be and the MPs magically just accept the decision. I would love to know what makes the MPs so accepting. I have heard rumours …
5. Ray 5

   2 May 2017 at 8:17 am

   Definitely an impressive list with tons of talent, apart from the low 20s that is.
6. Anne 6

   2 May 2017 at 9:14 am

   If ever there was an excellent example of the MSM frothing at the mouth over a minuscule Labour hiccup this was it. It’s true Willie Jackson questioned his position and planned to speak to some Wellington heavies, but the “crisis meeting”? Yet another figment of their anti-Labour imagination.

   The Nat boys and girls are getting worried.

   Anyone pick up Madam Claire Robinson’s remark about Gerry Brownlee on Sunday’s Q&A? She thought he might take a bit of time settling in to Foreign Affairs, but by election time he would be ready for the next term. The expression on her face was a dead giveaway. Every opportunity to ram home the message… VOTE NATIONAL.

   Her pretences to come across as impartial are becoming ever more transparent.
   • Bearded Git 6.1

     2 May 2017 at 10:37 am

     @ Anne agreed….I thought Vernon Small was very unfair when he called it a “shambles” yesterday. Jackson was offered a “winnable” position not a “high” position, and that is exactly what he got. In this morning’s press conference Jackson indicated he was happy. The Maoris are likely to be a quarter of the Labour caucus after the election-they can hardly complain at that.

     Moroney is part of the renewal Little is looking for and has achieved.

     A storm in a teacup that Hoskin, Gower and Soper have dined out on. And so the election campaign starts as it will go on…….get used to it.
7. Cinny 7

   2 May 2017 at 9:20 am

   Four months out from the election and both Labour and Greens have both presented us with diverse lists of stellar candidates.

   The outgoing governments party list won’t be ready until a month out from the election, I wonder why that is, with so many of them departing one would think their candidates would already be getting their campaigns together. Is there a shortage of candidates wanting to stand for national? Maybe the media should gossip about that, might get them some clicks?
8. Karen 8

   2 May 2017 at 9:28 am

   Seem like a reasonable list. I’m pleased Greg O’Connor hasn’t been given a high list placing and so will have to win his seat. Also pleased Mallard will have to hope Labour get 35% to get in – may make him do a bit more work campaigning. There are always a few I’d like to change e.g. I wouldn’t have Stuart Nash in the top 30 let alone at 10.

   I’ve done a rough calculation based on what looks like winnable electorates to work out who will get in at 35%. I am expecting 6 of the Māori seats to go Labour and maybe for Greg O’Connor and either Duncan Webb or Steph Lewis to win. If this happens then Tamati Coffey at 34 gets in. That would mean 42 MPS – 12 Māori, 5 Pasifika, 1 Chinese, I Indian, 1 Indonesian. 19 or 20 would be women.
   • lprent 8.1

     2 May 2017 at 10:03 am

     Yeah. Good list. You can tell – it will disappoint almost everyone is some way or another 🙂

     I really like the emphasis on sitting MPs and candidates with a good chance (ie generally urbanish seats) having to win their seats to get in.
9. Rosemary McDonald 9

   2 May 2017 at 9:35 am

   Is there a candidate from either Labour or the Greens in my electorate….Taranaki-King Country?

   (I have looked, but did not find.)
   • Karen 9.1

     2 May 2017 at 9:59 am

     Hilary Humphrey is the Labour candidate.

     http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1703/S00377/hilary-humphrey-selected-as-labour-candidate-for-taranaki.htm

     Basically has no show of overturning the Nat so it is your party vote that counts.
     • Rosemary McDonald 9.1.1

       2 May 2017 at 10:24 am

       Thank you Karen. Our electorate has more than weird boundaries….http://www.elections.org.nz/voters/find-my-electorate

       Inglewood just sneaks in in the south, and we just sneak in 10 km SW of the Hamilton city boundary.

       Huge area, not high population, but very diverse. Candidates would do well to engage with ALL of us.

       Current incumbent is a complete non entity.

       Like her predecessor.
       • Hilary Humphrey 9.1.1.1

         2 May 2017 at 10:45 pm

         Hi Rosemary,
         Would love to connect and engage with you! Flick me an email with your contact details and I’ll be in touch.
         🙂 Your friendly local Labour candidate in TKC
         Hilary
         • Rosemary McDonald 9.1.1.1.1

           3 May 2017 at 7:03 am

           Wow. Just, wow. 🙂

           I just may do that.

           Serious question. Campaigning in such a geographically large electorate must be time consuming and expensive.

           Does the Party offer support to candidates in such electorates…recognising that expenses must be higher?
           • Gosman 9.1.1.1.1.1

             3 May 2017 at 7:18 am

             Apending money in TKC rather than in more marginal eectorates would not make a lot if sense.
             • Rosemary McDonald …

               3 May 2017 at 9:11 am

               Kinda defeatist don’t you think?

               Me….I’d see that as a challenge…at least I’d be looking to reduce the incumbent’s margin, if not root them them out.

               Hilary…take no notice of Gossie, fight to take this seat from his mates, eh?
               • Gosman …

                 3 May 2017 at 9:43 am

                 I would love it if left wing parties wasted more resources in electorates where they have little chance of success or even if they did it would make very little difference to the outcome. As you have pointed out TKC has a small but geographically diverse voter base. If Labour spent 30 thousand reaching say 10,000 voters in that electorate they will likely miss out on reaching 100,000 voters in a large urban electorate. By all means spend your money that way if you want.
                 • Rosemary McDonald …

                   3 May 2017 at 9:57 am

                   Gosh Gosman….do you get paid a bonus for comments with more than one sentence?

                   I’d hate to think that ANY seat is considered ‘safe’ to the point that an Opposition party decides not to bother putting up a fight.

                   Insulting to those of us not represented by our incumbent and becoming quite desperate for change.
                   • Gosman …

                     3 May 2017 at 11:36 am

                     Yes but MMP means you do get to be represented by people you identify with. A list MP can quite easily represent you on local issues. Look at how Chris Bishop of National has basically truned himself in to the local electorate candidate. He is far more visible and active than Trevor Mallard.
10. Carolyn_nth 10

    2 May 2017 at 9:38 am

    Laughed at this tweet from Toby Manhire:

    “Paddy Gower … making up stories in his little head about me being a sooky bubba” – Willie Jackson.
11. Robert Glennie 11

    2 May 2017 at 10:09 am

    https://willnewzealandberight.com/2017/05/01/winston-rising-national-indifferent-and-labour-idling/

    Labour might have released its list, but it still seems to be idling.
12. Sacha 12

    2 May 2017 at 10:10 am

    A concession: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1705/S00018/willie-jackson-appointed-as-labours-maori-campaign-director.htm

    Will be interesting to hear how the party’s other Maori candidates feel about that. Lot of focus on Willie but he won’t have been the only one noting the paucity of Maori people high up the list, apparently a condition negotiated in exchange for Maori seat candidates agreeing to go list-only.
    • Karen 12.1

      2 May 2017 at 10:17 am

      There are 6 Māori in winnable positions on the list and if the 6 current Maori electorate MPs win (as they are likely to do) there will be 12 Māori in the caucus.

      I think Peeni Henare and Kelvin Davis will certainly be very happy to have Willie helping them get out the Auckland urban vote. This wouldn’t have happened without the Māori caucus agreeing to it. Also – this is an unpaid position.
    • marty mars 12.2

      2 May 2017 at 10:32 am

      Yep seems like a double payment coming up for those MPs – you’d think their sacrifice would have allowed other brothers and sisters to come through on the list – ah well im sure the plan is working.
13. Bill 13

    2 May 2017 at 10:15 am

    I don’t suppose anyone with a bit more knowledge than me would care to remove the known managerialists and liberals from that list and post whatever’s left?

    Looking for names I’d immediately associate with being left or progressive was, yeah…seems most of them have gone.
    • Karen 13.1

      2 May 2017 at 10:20 am

      There are a lot of new names there, Bill. How about finding out about them yourself before making your mind up?
      • Bill 13.1.1

        2 May 2017 at 10:34 am

        I’ve applied what knowledge I have to the top tranches of familiar names. The tail of the list is essentially irrelevant.

        I didn’t make a demand Karen, I made a request that can be responded to or ignored as people with more knowledge at their fingertips than me see fit.
        • weka 13.1.1.1

          2 May 2017 at 4:04 pm

          It’s a good idea. Can you please post the ones you recognise as left/progressive? I find in these conversations that it’s hard to know what people mean otherwise.
          • weka 13.1.1.1.1

            2 May 2017 at 4:11 pm

            Here’s Bradbury’s reckons about the Cunliffe coup factions from 2013, which might give a broad indication of the neoliberals, the careerists and the more progressives,

            Team Shearer (11)
            David Shearer, Phil Goff, Annette King, Trevor Mallard, David Parker, Damien O’Connor, Darien Fenton, Kris Fa’afoi, Ross Robertson, Maryan Street, Ruth Dyson.

            The Young and The Restless (8)
            Grant Robertson, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Phil Twyford, Clare Curran, Megan Woods, Ian Lees-Galloway, David Clark.

            Cunliffe’s People (11)
            David Cunliffe, Lianne Dalziel, Moana Mackey, Nanaia Mahuta, Louisa Wall, Sue Moroney, Rajen Prasad, Rino Tirikatene, Su’a William Sio, Raymond Huo, Carol Beaumont,

            http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/07/15/labour-party-coup-watch-downgrade/
    • adam 13.2

      2 May 2017 at 4:16 pm

      Not seeing anyone who is not a liberal of the managerial type in their top 30. If you use Ad’s, evaluation below – then not a win for socialist ideals, indeed a abject failure.

      Good to see labour being honest about their embrace of managerial liberalism with this list though. Sends a nice clear message to the electorate.
      • weka 13.2.1

        2 May 2017 at 5:13 pm

        Would you include the Māori seat MPs in that?
14. Thinkerr 14

    2 May 2017 at 10:21 am

    If possible, could you re-post the list to show the ones who are also standing in an electorate, please? Maybe just an asterisk by their name.
    • Carolyn_nth 14.1

      2 May 2017 at 11:24 am

      Simon Wilson has listed the Labour electorate candidates he thinks will win their electorates – scroll down the article for that.

      My count of the candidates in “safe” electorate seats, who are likely to win regardless of how well or badly the party does, is 22.

      They are: Jacinda Ardern, David Clark, Clare Curran, Ruth Dyson, Paul Eagle, Kris Fa’afoi, Peeni Henare, Chris Hipkins, Iain Lees-Galloway, Nanaia Mahuta, Damien O’Connor, Grant Robertson, Deborah Russell, Jenny Salesa, Carmel Sepuloni, Rino Tirikatene, Phil Twyford, Aupito William Sio, Louisa Wall, Poto Williams, Michael Wood and Megan Woods.

      Probably going to be MPs

      In addition, if Labour gets 35% support it will win quite a few marginals. That would probably include most of these: Ginny Anderson in Hutt South, Kelvin Davis in Te Tai Tokerau, Steph Lewis in Whanganui, Stuart Nash in Napier, Greg O’Connor in Ōhāriu, Priyanca Radhakrishnan in Maungakiekie, Adrian Ruawhe in Te Tai Hauāuru, Duncan Webb in Christchurch Central, Meka Whaitiri in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.
      • Karen 14.1.1

        2 May 2017 at 11:45 am

        Thanks Carolyn -this is a good assessment from Wilson in my opinion.

        I’d suggest anyone interested in an overview of how the numbers will work read it.
15. Stephen Doyle 15

    2 May 2017 at 10:57 am

    Thrilled to bits Marja Lubeck is at 31. We might have a Labour MP to help out the North of the Bridge cluster.
    • Karen 15.1

      2 May 2017 at 11:46 am

      I hope she gets in – she’s great.
16. Cynical jester 16

    2 May 2017 at 11:27 am

    Interesting list lots of new faces. I am disappointed with Duncan Webbs placing as I think he will bring such a great set of skills to the party and that chch central needs a labour mp with his experience in fighting the nats on the rebuild and I think Chch centrals new boundaries make it a harder win for labour than they realize. Heres hoping labour can get to mid 30s on party vote so he’ll get in regardless
17. Ethica 17

    2 May 2017 at 12:16 pm

    We need to remember that the mainstream media has never been sympathetic to the left. Labour and the Greens always have and will always get a harder time than National, and there will always be numerous influential people who will be given prominent platforms to do anti-left editorialising as if they were neutral commentators. Something that the left does will be blown up into a big disaster but ignored if the right does it. The list is just one example. There is a long and complicated democratic process behind the Labour and Green lists. The National list is a secret process run by the party bosses. Yet Labour gets the negative media attention.
    • Sacha 17.1

      2 May 2017 at 3:18 pm

      Of course the media are biased. The Gallery are also reactive pack animals who go into a frenzy at the faintest sniff of blood. We know that.

      RNZ’s Chris Bramwell notes how Labour did not help their cause with the way this process was handled: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/329910/labour-party-listing-early-in-election-voyage

      Mr Little himself admits the way it played out on Monday was “unfortunate”, saying the party list deals with people’s careers and livelihoods, and those who spoke out about it did a gross discourtesy to those who wanted their concerns dealt with in confidence.

      While it may have been unfortunate, it was also avoidable.

      It’s election year and Labour will be wanting to avoid any and all ‘unfortunate’ incidents particularly those that play into National’s narrative of Labour being disorganised and dysfunctional.

      This is what happens when people who undermine their caucus and party face little consequence – the rot spreads. Let’s watch what happens when their next MP or candidate speaks out of line.
      • Sacha 17.1.1

        2 May 2017 at 3:44 pm

        The Herald’s Audrey Young says the party’s Council has undermined Mr Little in its list selections: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11848607
        • Karen 17.1.1.1

          2 May 2017 at 3:53 pm

          Is Audrey on the payroll of the Nats now or does she do it for love?
          • Karen 17.1.1.1.1

            2 May 2017 at 4:07 pm

            The fact is (as Audrey knows) the list isn’t a decision made by the council or by the leader. It is a democratic process that involves members, MPs and the council. Also, as Jessica Williams says:

            Jessica Williams‏Verified account @mizjwilliams 9m9 minutes ago
            “I mean. There’s a lot wrong in this article, but jeez, Bill English doesn’t direct what happens in the Nats any more than Little does in Lab”
            • Sacha 17.1.1.1.1.1

              2 May 2017 at 5:50 pm

              She prefers her facts alternative in service of her beloved party. Her editors and publisher allow that.
18. Cynical jester 18

    2 May 2017 at 12:27 pm

    If Duncan Webb loses his seat chch central will have had zero representation from an mp representing the poor and working class for 9 years at the next election. During a major rebuild. I’m sorry but goix god thats foolish and irresponsible. He should be where Trevor Mallard is and Trevor Mallard should be list only.
    • Barfly 18.1

      2 May 2017 at 2:15 pm

      Mallard is list only mate
      • Cynical jester 18.1.1

        2 May 2017 at 11:00 pm

        I see now, still i think he should just go. Still think its foolish for labour not to have given Duncan a more guaranteed list spot, if only to have a labour face in chch central which in my opinion is important but oh well. Here’s to him taking that seat and thqt portfolio from Wagner.
19. Ad 19

    2 May 2017 at 2:35 pm

    Parliament has 121 seats.
    If Labour got 30% of the vote they get 36 seats.

    With the Maori Seat likelies, there are only a very few on that list who would not get in as electorate MPs.

    If the likely electorate MPs are:
    Ardern, Robertson, Twyford, Woods, Hipkins, Sepuloni, Clark, Nash, Lees-G, Sio, O’COnnor, Salesa, Faafoi, Curran, Dyson, Williams, Wall, Wood, Anderson, Russell, Tirikatene, Eagle, Henare, Mahuta, Davis, Ruawhe, Webb, and Whaitare

    Then the only people who are unlikely to be electorate MPs in the top 30 are, in order:

    – Andrew Little
    – David Parker
    – Radhakrishnan
    – Jan Tinetti
    – Willow-Jean Prime
    – Kiri Allan
    – Willy Jackson
    – Jo Luxton, and
    – Liz Craig

    To make up the 36 seats for getting 30% of the vote, those on the list who would make it would be:
    – Little
    – Parker
    – Radhakrishnan
    – Tinetti
    – Prime
    – Allan

    31% Labour vote gets one more:

    Jackson

    32% Labour vote get you 39:

    Luxton
    Craig

    After that you are in dreamland.
    • marty mars 19.1

      2 May 2017 at 5:23 pm

      so at 30% if one of the Māori seat likelies didn’t get the seat then jackson would come on?
      • Sacha 19.1.1

        2 May 2017 at 6:38 pm

        A perverse incentive, prehaps, but he sounded constructive on Checkpoint: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201842381/willie-jackson-on-standing-for-labour,-and-his-list-ranking

        Importantly, Jackson said he had been appointed to that coordinator role weeks ago and was just in Welli yesterday to discuss arrangements with the party before a different meeting today in his Te Matawai board role.
20. fisiani 20

    2 May 2017 at 4:00 pm

    If Labour win an extra electorate seat they lose one from the list. If they lose an electorate seat they gain one from the list. Which seat is Labour most likely to win and which to lose? My pick would be Ohariu and Hutt South.
    • DoublePlusGood 20.1

      2 May 2017 at 4:51 pm

      Also a decent chance to pick up Maungakiekie.
21. Michael who failed Civics 21

    2 May 2017 at 5:38 pm

    30% of the Party Vote, plus or minus one or two %, looks possible for Labour, assuming the last two polls represent the trend and there is no dip or surge between now and polling day. I don’t think Labour is likely to surge, because it doesn’t have anything to offer beside the neoliberal status quo, but it might benefit from someone else’s stumble (most likely the Nats). Winston looks likely to surge, perhaps to 15%, with most of his new votes coming from the Nats, but that’s not good news for Labour because it is handcuffed to the Greens and their vote looks likely to dip because James Shaw committed them to neoliberal austerity (with Labour). As a result, Winston looks likely to sign up with the Nats, unless Labour offers a massive bauble to entice him its way. And, if the Greens dip well down into single figures, Labour could cut them loose without a backward glance. Perhaps that was what the BRR was all about?
22. red-blooded 22

    2 May 2017 at 6:19 pm

    Duncan Garner’s just been commenting on TV1 and was mostly positive. He said the release process was sloppy, but emphasised that Jackson is saying he’s happy, and that the list shows that the party’s working on renewal and that there’s some impressive talent coming through. He also emphasised the diversity of the list and Jackson’s campaign role with the Māori candidates. Basically a fair report from hm, although the focus on process was an unfortunate distraction.
23. Tanz 23

    2 May 2017 at 6:38 pm

    It’s all cronyism, after all. No real refreshment and the members never got a say, as usual. National gives members a vote, I believe, not just up to the party machine.
    • Jenny Kirk 23.1

      2 May 2017 at 9:17 pm

      You talking about National, Tanz ?? Cronyism and no real refreshment ? That’s the Nats.
      Labour’s new system of choosing its candidates is way more democratic than that – not much cronyism in it. Heaps of opportunity for individual party members to have their say. And resulting in an impressive list of highly talented and competent soon-to-be MPs.
      • Tanz 23.1.1

        3 May 2017 at 4:42 pm

        Yes, but there is never a say as to who goes onto the list, unlike with electorate MPs.
        However I do concede we have an unelected, retread PM with BIll English.
24. mosa 24

    3 May 2017 at 12:31 am

    Labour will benefit in the years ahead with some outstanding people like Jean Willow Prime.

    30% on election night like a lot of people here are suggesting is not going to do one iota to change the government on September 23rd.

    Helen got 38.74% in 1999 and formed a minority government only because National under Shipley dropped to 30.5%.

    With National at around 43 % there is still a lot of work to do and time is running out.

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