Ex-National MPs deluging Citizens & Ratepayers card

Former National MPs are filling the ranks of the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket with the announcement that Marie Hasler will contest the Waitakere ward for the Super City.

The former Waitakere MP and Cabinet minister joins former National Cabinet minister and Auckland City Mayor Christine Fletcher seeking a position for C&R on the Auckland Council.

Mrs Fletcher is standing in the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward.

Ms Hasler is at present public relations manager for the Employers and Manufacturer Association (Northern) and a longtime resident of West Auckland.

C&R has selected Mark Brickell, a founding member of Swanson Residents & Ratepayers, as the other candidate for the two-seat Waitakere ward.

The centre-right ticket has also announced candidates for several local boards.

Notable names are Mark Thomas, the National Party candidate who was sacrificed by Prime Minister Jim Bolger for Act's Richard Prebble in Wellington Central in 1996, selected for the Orakei local board; and Auckland City councillors Greg Moyle and Ken Baguley, who missed selection for wards but gained selection for the Waitemata and Orakei local boards respectively.

Meanwhile, speculation is growing about Newmarket Business Association chief executive and National Party member Cameron Brewer.

The Herald understands Mr Brewer has been approached about standing for C&R in the Waitemata and Gulf ward for the Auckland Council if Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett does not contest the seat.

Mr Barnett was selected as the C&R candidate but withdrew in May after being diagnosed with throat cancer.

Yesterday, he said he was halfway through treatment and his position had not changed.

The Herald understands Mr Brewer, 37, is also considering going head-to-head with C&R's Doug Armstrong in the blue-ribbon Orakei seat to provide a young and energetic alternative to the 67-year-old retired engineer.

He is polling to assess his name recognition and see if he could get elected as an independent councillor.

Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney is another high-profile candidate eyeing the Waitemata and Gulf ward.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee is a confirmed starter for the central city ward.