19 parties seeking support at election

A total of 739 people are standing for Parliament and 19 parties are seeking the important party vote, the Chief Electoral Office says, releasing all electorate and party list nominations. And one of the more interesting sets of candidates will be East Coast, vacated by retiring Labour MP Janet Mackey.

A political reporter for the Maori language news show Te Karere, Joe Glen, is standing for New Zealand First. John Harre, the Pakeha father of former Alliance cabinet minister Laila Harre, and a retired educationist, is standing for the Maori Party; former Napier MP Anne Tolley is standing for National; and Janet Mackey's daughter and list MP Moana Mackey is standing for Labour. Mr Glen sought selection as a Labour candidate for the southern Maori seat of Te Tai Tonga in 1999 but was beaten by Mahara Okeroa, who continues to hold the seat.

TVNZ spokesman Robin Field said Mr Glen took leave last Friday.

Among the other candidates is noted lawyer Dr Rob Moodie, standing in Rangitikei for United Future. He stood for the party in Wellington Central last time.

Former National Front leader Kyle Chapman is standing for the Direct Democracy Party in Christchurch East. Destiny Party is standing candidates against the two Labour gay MPs: John Kotoisuva is standing against cabinet minister Chris Carter in Te Atatu, and Anita Breach taking on Tim Barnett in Christchurch Central.

Another gay candidate, former Labour president Maryan Street, is heading back to her home province of Taranaki to stand in one of the most conservative electorates, Taranaki-King Country.

With a list placing of 36, she is expected to win a list position anyway. Nineteen parties are seeking the all-important party vote, up from 14 at the 2002 election. Parties have submitted 667 candidates compared with 523 in 2002, up 27 per cent.

Registered parties seeking the party vote, with number of list candidates, and electorate candidates:

Act New Zealand - 59, 56
Alliance - 30, 16
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party - 13, 6
Christian Heritage NZ - 6, 5
Democrats for Social Credit - 29, 5
Destiny New Zealand - 42, 39
Direct Democracy Party - 32, 32
Green Party - 57, 52
Jim Anderton's Progressive - 51, 52
Labour Party - 75, 69
Libertarianz - 28, 11
Maori Party - 51, 42
National Party - 65, 62
New Zealand Family Rights Protection Party - 18, 7
New Zealand First Party - 40, 40
99 MP Party - 2, 0
OneNZ Party - 6, 1
The Republic of New Zealand Party - 6, 3
United Future New Zealand - 57, 62

Totals: 667, 560

- additional reporting, NZPA