Former government minister Hekia Parata was in Whanganui on Tuesday as part of a nationwide tour supporting female candidates standing for the National Party.
Mrs Parata was in Whanganui to support her longtime friend Harete Hipango, who is National's candidate for the Whanganui electorate at the general election on September 23.
Mrs Parata, who has been a list MP for nearly a decade, announced last year that she wouldn't seek re-election. Instead she's spending her energies helping out other women candidates. After her visit to Whanganui, Mrs Parata heads to Palmerston North to support Adrienne Pierce, who is standing for National in that electorate.
"The National Party has a number of high-calibre women candidates - and I'd like to see them all get in," Mrs Parata said.
She said 10 of National's MPs were not standing for re-election this year, giving the party the chance to "refresh".