Back to day job for four National candidates

By DITA DE BONI

Body1: National Party president Michelle Boag's four key "new broom" candidates brought in to clean up in this year's election will be returning to their day jobs after a tumultuous first stab at the campaign trail.

Rangitoto College head Allan Peachey, environmental consultant Guy Salmon, Wellington consultant Hekia Parata and former party president Sue Wood missed out on Saturday night when National's seats in Parliament were slashed to 27.

Mr Peachey, who was ranked 18 on the party list, will return to school this morning, and says he is not sure if politics will be able to rouse him again in 2005. "It was a disappointment to me that I was put in there to provide leadership on the education issue but was not able to speak with the authority I needed to," he said.

"National missed the opportunity to make education an issue. The presidential style of the election meant that the real issues were not examined sufficiently and I think the party vote reflected that."

Mr Peachey said he had realised he was not a politician. "I don't think like one, I don't relate to other people like one, and I am not driven by a huge desire to get into Parliament."

But he had found the campaign trail fascinating and "loved every minute of it".

Guy Salmon, head of the Ecologic Foundation and ranked 20 on the party list, also enjoyed the experience but said he probably wouldn't take another shot.

"I am very disappointed with the result, but I enjoyed the campaign and met terrific people from the party's rank and file."

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