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One of Labour's most influential Cabinet ministers has been linked to a top academic job and may not stand at next year's election.
Education Minister Steve Maharey's name has recently been linked with the vice-chancellor's vacancy at Massey University, based in his home city of Palmerston North, where he used to lecture in sociology.
The Herald understands he has expressed interest in the job.
Mr Maharey yesterday sought to scotch rumours he could be one of Labour's retirements and said he did not have any applications in for any job anywhere but he had discussed the Massey post.
"People have approached me to talk about it, to talk about the vice-chancellor here, but I haven't got an application in. I am not actively seeking anything."
However, Mr Maharey did not categorically deny an interest.
Asked if he would be interested if, at the end of the selection process, the Massey University appointments panel invited him to apply for the job, he said: "Probably not. It's such a hypothetical situation, which is why I am dancing around it.
"There isn't anything there. What I am confirming is that I hear that now and again, too, from people, and people do talk to me about the job and so on, but no one is offering me a job and no one is talking to me in the process."
Until recently Mr Maharey was seen as the left-wing intellectual who could become party leader.
Asked whether he would stand in the next election, the minister responded with the sort of language commonly used by politicians to be correct at the time but not necessarily in the future, words that focus on his present intentions.
He said: "As you and I stand here today, I am absolutely making that decision, as we all say. I am intending to stand next year."
Asked if there was anything else he could say, he said: "I can't control the fact that people might talk about the fact that they are having a hunt for a vice-chancellor and that I might be a choice, but I haven't been offered anything and I am not applying for anything ... I am running - all go!"
The Prime Minister is expected to reshuffle the Cabinet before the next election as part of her rejuvenation plan for the party and there is now a growing expectation in caucus that Michael Cullen will step down as Finance Minister.
Trade Minister Phil Goff is seen as a serious contender to succeed him in that role.
