Labour unveils list for election – with key names missing

Greg O’Connor is not on the list at all. O’Connor ran an electorate-only race in the Ohāriu seat in both 2020 and 2023. Following the electorate’s abolition at this election, O’Connor was left electorate-less, having missed out on selection for the new Wellington North seat.

“It’s no one’s fault that Ōhāriu has disappeared,” O’Connor said, adding that he had decided “reasonably late in the piece” that he wouldn’t put his name forward for the list.

“It’s a little bit like choosing the Pope, some would say choosing the Pope is a lot more transparent than selecting the Labour list.

“I’d have loved to have continued.”

Another name not on the list is the party’s candidate for Te Tai Tonga, Mananui Ramsden. This would suggest he may run an electorate-only race. Former minister Michael Wood has announced he would run an electorate-only race in Mount Roskill. This means the only way for these MPs to enter Parliament is if their local constituents vote them in.

New candidate Sophie Handford has won a high list placing at number 26. Handford is standing in the Kāpiti electorate, which takes in large parts of the former Ōtaki electorate held by National’s Tim Costley.

High-profile CTU economist and former Grant Robertson staffer Craig Renney is well down the list at number 51. A ranking that low is often interpreted as an indication from the party that a candidate needs to prove themselves by winning an electorate in order to enter Parliament.

Renney is contesting the Wellington Bays electorate, which is held by the Greens under the name Rongotai.

The highest-ranked new candidate is Rakesh Naidoo, who is currently the national partnerships manager – ethnic, iwi and communities at New Zealand Police. Next is Chris Flatt at number 20. Flatt has been the national secretary of the NZ Dairy Workers Union and was general secretary of the Labour Party between 2009 and 2012.

Another new candidate, Warrick Cleine, was given a place at number 30. Cleine is currently serving on KPMG’s Asia Pacific Board and Global Council, as the chairman and CEO of KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Labour Party president Jill Day said the team was “focused on ensuring that working hard in New Zealand means getting ahead – that people can afford to live and build a future here at home.

“Our list is drawn from communities, regions and cultures across New Zealand. We’re combining seasoned MPs with fresh voices, and the team includes leaders in health, education, small business, community development and environmental protection,” she said.