The National Party board has confirmed plans to select a new candidate for the Southland electorate amid the leak scandal that has ended Hamish Walker's political career.
Walker today announced he would withdraw his candidacy for the re-named electorate of Southland and would not stand at the upcoming election.
He had confessed yesterday to being the person who provided media with the confidential details of 18 patients infected with Covid-19.
Walker announced he was quitting before learning his fate from the National Party board.
National Party president Peter Goodfellow said the board met today via videoconference and was told Walker had resigned his candidacy for the party.