Labour picks Twyford as Te Atatu candidate

Phil Twyford. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Labour Party has today chosen list MP Phil Twyford as its next candidate in the Te Atatu electorate, replacing ousted MP Chris Carter.

Mr Twyford has saved himself from the embarrassment of missing out on his fourth hope for an electorate seat. He lost out on the Waitakere seat to Carmel Sepuloni. He was also earlier discouraged by the party hierarchy from putting his name forward in two seats - Mt Albert, now held by David Shearer, and Auckland Central, in which Jacinda Ardern will stand.

Mr Twyford said he was humbled at being chosen.

"Today we start the journey to winning Te Atatu and winning back government," he said.

"From today, we draw a line in the sand on the past and focus on what needs to be done in the future for the ordinary hard working Kiwi men and women and their families in Te Atatu."

Mr Twyford has been a Labour list MP since 2008 and led Labour's campaign in the Super City as Spokesperson on Auckland issues.

Mr Carter said he believed Mr Twyford had the best chance of keeping the seat out of National Party hands. Although not a local, Kingsland resident Mr Twyford had a profile from his work opposing the Super City. Mr Carter said if Mr Twyford was not chosen, he himself would consider standing again to keep the seat in centre-left hands.

Yesterday, Labour president Andrew Little said its next candidate in Te Atatu would have to repair damage done to it by Carter to stop the seat slipping into National's hands.

He said Labour was already damaged by Mr Carter's behaviour.

"There will be many people who say it has all been a bit messy and this is not looking good for Labour. We have to have a candidate who can counter that."