National Party list MP Tutehounuku (Nuk) Korako has announced that he will leave Parliament in a month’s time.
While the MP refers to his leaving as a retirement, he has only been in the House for 5 years. In that time he chaired the Nat’s Maori caucus, covered up rival’s elections signs, and infamously sponsored a bill about lost luggage.
Leaving now certainly doesn’t look like a ringing endorsement of Simon Bridges’ leadership and may be a sign that the Tories are resigned to losing in 2020.
While the timing does seems odd, the MP says it is to help his successor get to know the issues and people of Port Hills ahead of next year’s election.
That successor will be West Aucklander Paulo Garcia, who will become National’s first Filipino MP. Presumably the new MP will be relocating to Christchurch, having previously stood and lost in the New Lynn electorate.
Mr Korako twice stood for the Port Hills seat, losing to Ruth Dyson both times. Long serving Labour MP Dyson will also be retiring, though not till the next election.
Mr Korako will give his valedictory speech on 1 May, 2019.
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress