Cameron Brewer considering Helensville seat

Former Auckland councillor Cameron Brewer. Herald on Sunday Photograph by Michael Craig

Former Auckland councillor Cameron Brewer could stand for the Helensville seat when Prime Minister John Key steps down next year.

Brewer, who moved to Riverhead in the electorate in October last year, said he had a number of people in the National Party contact him this week.

"I'm not ruling it out at this point. However, as you'd appreciate this has come much sooner than expected, and first and foremost I've got a young family to consider - very young in fact with our youngest son just five months old.

"So for me it's about timing. I've been a party member for 20 years and spent a few years working for them in Parliament, so I have a good appreciation of the commitment and am incredibly mindful of how tough it is on families," he said.

Brewer has strong links to the National Party, having worked for six years as a press secretary for former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley and as a researcher in National's parliamentary research unit.

He also worked for former Local Government Minister and Act Leader Hon Rodney Hide, and Auckland City Mayor John Banks.

Brewer stepped down this year after two terms as the Auckland councillor for Orakei and won a seat on the Rodney Local Board.

Auckland mayoral candidate and businesswoman Vic Crone, whose name has been bandied about as a future National MP, said standing in Helensville was not on the list of things she is looking at at the moment.