Act party two short at first caucus

By FRANCESCA MOLD

The Act party held its first post-election caucus meeting yesterday without leader Richard Prebble, who is suffering from pneumonia, and MP Donna Awatere Huata, who colleagues said was on holiday.

Mr Prebble was admitted to North Shore Hospital the day after the election and was discharged yesterday. He is not expected to return to work for at least two weeks.

Ms Awatere Huata was also missing from the line-up of Act MPs who fronted a press conference yesterday. They included newcomers Heather Roy and Deborah Coddington.

The party's acting leader, Ken Shirley, said Ms Awatere Huata was having a well-earned break.

Asked whether it was a "bad look" for her not to be at the caucus meeting, he replied: "We'd have loved Donna to have been here but I've been in touch with her and she certainly campaigned hard and deserves a break."

Ms Awatere Huata was dropped one place on the party's candidate list to number five at the election. There may also be some competition for her position as education spokeswoman, after Deborah Coddington signalled her interest in raising education issues in the new parliamentary term.



Mr Shirley said Mr Prebble's leadership was not challenged at yesterday's caucus meeting, despite suggestions from ousted Act MP Owen Jennings that there was a need to review the leader's position if the party was to broaden its appeal.

"The leadership of Act is secure," said Mr Shirley. "Other parties are engaged in navel-gazing, retrospective reviews and even possibly witchhunts, but Act is looking forward."

The issue of leadership had not arisen, he said.

Mr Jennings and fellow MP Penny Webster were farewelled at yesterday's caucus after losing their seats in Parliament.

The pair had been dumped from sixth and eighth position on the party list to 12th and 13th, beyond the cut-off point.

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