Heatley assesses future

Outgoing Whangarei MP Phil Heatley and wife, Jenny, applaud his replacement Shane Reti winning the Whangarei seat on Saturday night. Photo / John Stone

Outgoing Whangarei MP Phil Heatley and wife, Jenny, applaud his replacement Shane Reti winning the Whangarei seat on Saturday night

Outgoing National MP for Whangarei, Phil Heatley, played the unfamiliar role of cheerleader on Saturday as he watched Shane Reti win the seat he held for the past 15 years.

"It was quite different but I really enjoyed it," Mr Heatley said.

He was one of around 90 people at Mr Reti's election night party at Spires Pavilion who watched the National candidate win by 12,379 over Labour's Kelly Ellis. The decision to leave politics was an easy one, Mr Heatley said, and he was happy to be relaxing for the first election night in a while.

"I had five terms and I just really enjoyed it but I wanted to leave at the top of my game."

Too many politicians stay in their roles too long, Mr Heatley said. "Some members of Parliament just have to know when to go.

"As I said, I really enjoyed my job but I am very much ready to move into the next thing," he said. However, what that next thing is remains to be seen.

"I am definitely going to take a couple of months off to get my thoughts in order about what is next," Mr Heatley said.

Those months off may include a spot of fishing, especially after he received a rod as part of his farewell present from the party. Before becoming a politician, Mr Heatley was an agricultural engineer. While an MP he enjoyed working with energy, natural resources, agriculture and the fishing industry, and it was possible his new career would involve one of those areas.

His wife, Jenny, and their three children are all happy about the change, however, it may take some getting used to.

"They tell me they're going to be pleased I'm going to be around although they tell me they don't like my cooking".

Mr Heatley's repertoire only consists of spaghetti bolognese and Chinese stir fry, although he plans to expand on it now he has more time on his hands.

Like any political career there were ups and downs, Mr Heatley said.

"What's unfair is people saying that Whangarei is just a National seat and it's so easy to win there," he said.

And Mr Heatley had some advice for Mr Reti on Saturday night: Back your instincts and work hard.