Record number of North MPs possible after election

NZ First leader Winston Peters,and Whangarei candidate Shane Jones could form part of a record number of Northland MPs in Parliament after the election.

Northland could have a record number of MPs in Parliament after the election.

Six New Zealand MPs with strong Northland links could be in Parliament after the election after the NZ First party list was released.

And depending on how the votes go on election day, there could potentially be a record 11 MPs in Parliament with strong Northland connections. It had five this term.

NZ First Leader and Northland MP Winston Peters is at No 1on his party's list while Jenny Marcroft, who has strong connections to the small Hokianga settlement of Utukura, where her father was born, is at No 9on the list.

The Party's Whangarei candidate, and former Labour cabinet minister, Shane Jones, is placed at No 8. Pita Paraone, a current list MP who has stood for the party in Whangarei previously is at No 11.

Ria Bond, who now lives in Invercargill, is from Motatau, south-east of Kawakawa, and is at No 12 on the list.

And Northland Inc CEO David Wilson, who is taking leave from his job to stand for the party in Te Atatu, is at No 14.

NZ First has 11 MPs after picking up 8.66 per cent of the party vote at the 2014 election. But with the party currently polling around 10 per cent, if that was achieved, or bettered, at the September 23 election, Mr Wilson would be close to getting in too.

Mr Peters said it was serendipity rather than design that saw so many with Northland connections high on the list.

"We went for talent, ability and can they contribute to the party and country, and that's the way it occurred. It's a very strong number from Northland," he said.

He said if the party formed part of the next government it meant Northland had a very strong voice.

"There will be big changes (for Northland (if elected) and Northland seriously needs them."

He said there were great people in Northland, but it was languishing and needed strong, clear direction to achieve its huge potential.

Ms Marcroft, a former broadcaster who lives in Matakana, said in the past few years she had reconnected to whanau in the Hokianga and fully understood the issues facing small communities like Utukura and other Hokianga settlements.

"Some of my whanau members live in very impoverished conditions so I really know the need for things to improve , and that's something I will be taking to Parliament," she said.

Mr Wilson said it was getting close the numbers needed to get him in and the party's internal polling had it at over 11 per cent support and, if he did get in, it would make a strong Northland block.

"I'm standing in Te Atatu, but Northland is, in effect, my second home. If I do get in I understand the issues Northland faces so I'm really keen to look at regional development."

Depending on how things go on election day, there could potentially be a record 11 MPs in Parliament with strong Northland connections - almost 10 per cent of all MPS.

National's Matt King will get in if he defeats Mr Peters in Northland, while Labour's Northland candidate Willow-Jean Prime is likely to get in due to her place on the Labour list; National's Shane Reti will get in if, as expected, he beats Mr Jones; and if Mana leader Hone Harawira wins Te Tai Tokerau he will get back into Parliament while rival Kelvin Davis will get in due to his second placing on Labour's list.