Diplomatic posting tipped as minister signals resignation

John Carter. Photo / Supplied

Northland MP and Civil Defence Minister John Carter is likely to get a diplomatic posting when he retires from Parliament after 24 years, the Herald understands.

And anti-P campaigner and former police office Mike Sabin said last night that he would seek selection as National's Northland candidate.

Mr Carter announced yesterday that he would not seek re-election in 2011. By then the 60-year-old will have served eight terms in Parliament, having first won in 1987.

The announcement that he is standing down is thought to be part of a deal he struck for a managed exit with Prime Minister John Key in 2008 when he was made a minister outside the Cabinet. His appointment was on the understanding it was for one term only.

The diplomatic posting most likely to go his way is High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, a position which was held by former New Zealand First MP Brian Donnelly, who has since died.

Like Mr Donnelly, Mr Carter has been a popular MP, and as a whip for many years showed an ability to work collegially across the House.

More recently he chaired the committee looking at Auckland governance legislation, and he is also Racing Minister.

Like many MPs, he has been a frequent traveller to the Cook Islands, sometimes using his taxpayer-funded discount travel to get there.

Once he is retired he will be eligible for a 90 per cent discount on private travel, equivalent to the value of a return business-class trip to London, though travel costs incurred as a diplomat would be part of the job.

While Ottawa and London were once the postings most favoured for retiring or former politicos (John Collinge, Paul East, Jonathan Hunt, Jim Gerard, Maurice McTigue, Graham Kelly), the Pacific is increasingly being offered as well: Sandra Lee served in Niue; Mark Blumsky is about to take up the Niue post; and Mr Donnelly and Mr Carter for the Cooks.

Mr Carter's Northland regularly wins the prize at National Party conferences for having the highest membership of any constituency. And in every MMP election since 1996, Mr Carter's personal vote has been much higher than National's party vote.

Mr Sabin told the Herald he was stepping down as head of anti-P organisation Methcon to seek selection in Northland.

- additional reporting: Adam Bennett