Focus: Dr Ayesha Verrall has been giving a prominent spot at number 18 on Labour's list. Video / Mark Mitchell
Infectious disease specialist Dr Ayesha Verrall, who was a go-to voice during Covid-19 pandemic, has been giving a prominent spot on Labour's list.
Verrall has been placed at number 18, which means she is very likely to be an MP after September's election.
Speaking to media today, she dismissed any concerns about her impartiality when making public comments about the Government's response to Covid-19.
She said she made no public comments after she submitted her candidate application in May.
The Labour Party this afternoon revealed its list for the election – its lineup of which candidates would make it into Parliament if they don't win their electorate.
Dunedin MP and Health Minister David Clark has been demoted from his 2017 list ranking from ninth to 17th.
But he has effectively kept the same ranking after he was demoted to the bottom rung of Cabinet for breaking the Covid lockdown rules when he took his family to the beach.
Labour Party President Claire Szabo said this reflects his demotion to the bottom of the Cabinet ranking last month and had nothing to do with Labour list rankings, which was a decision for the Prime Minister.
As expected, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is number 1, followed by Kelvin Davis then Grant Robertson – all three are electorate MPs expected to win their seats.
The highest-ranking MP without an electorate is Andrew Little – he has been placed at number seven.
Phil Twyford has been moved up a place, and is at number four – he was number five before the 2017 election.
Szabo said the list shows Labour has harnessed the broadest range of New Zealand with the right skills as the country rebuilds and recovers from Covid-19.
"Our list boosts our existing team with new talent from a range of different backgrounds - including health, law and business - to help us rebuild in the years to come."
She said September's election will be the "most important election for a generation" as the country recovers from the impact of Covid-19.
Although at number 18 on the list, Verrall is effectively at number five, given the 13 candidates ahead of her will most likely win their seats.
"In the last few months, you've come to know me as a doctor and an infectious diseases expert through my work on contact tracing," she told media today.
"I'm standing because the pandemic has made clear to me that we can't afford to leave the job of improving the public health system for another day."
Verrall would not say if she wanted to be Health Minister – "that's a decision for the Prime Minister; I'm happy to take any opportunity I'm given to work for better health for New Zealanders".
Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern with MP's Trevor Mallard and Kelvin Davis in front of Parliament. Photo / Marty Melville
She revealed that she put her nomination in on May 5 – Verrall submitted a report on the Government's contact tracing ability in mid-April.
But she had been providing commentary on the Government's Covid-19 response.
She said that she has not provided any public comment on Covid-19 and the Government's response since she submitted her nomination.
According to Labour's profile of her: "Verrall is an infectious diseases specialist who led the work to improve the Government's contact tracing programme to protect New Zealanders from Covid-19."
She is an elected member and deputy chair of the Capital and Coast District Health Board and works as an infectious disease doctor at Wellington Hospital, the profile said.
Other new candidates include human rights lawyer Vanushi Walters, employment lawyer Camilla Belich and director of a business consultancy firm Naisi Chen.
