KEY POINTS:
The National Party could have more Maori and Asian MPs in its ranks after the coming election. Its candidate list published yesterday is a clear attempt to boost the party's ethnic diversity.
On current polling, the list would produce six Maori MPs, three Asian MPs and a Pacific
Islander in National's next caucus.
The six Maori would be sitting MPs Georgina te Heuheu, Tau Henare and Paula Bennett, joined by Hekia Parata, Paul Quinn and Simon Bridges. The latter may get in Parliament by winning the Tauranga seat.
Pansy Wong, a sitting list MP, expects to be joined by broadcaster Melissa Lee and Indian businessman Kanwal Bakshi.
The party's Maungakiekie candidate, Auckland City councillor Sam Lotu-Iiga, has been given an assured place in Parliament at number 35 on the party list.
Steven Joyce, the party's campaign manager, has parachuted into slot 16 ahead of many in the caucus - and that is a clear signal he will go straight into the Cabinet if National leads the next government.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the low list ranking given to former Act MP Stephen Franks, contesting the Labour-held seat of Wellington Central for National.
At number 60 on the list Mr Franks is near the end of the 73-placed list but still stands a chance.
There are many variables that determine the number of list MPs allocated to a party, including the number of electorate seats it wins, its total party vote and the number of votes cast for parties that are eventually not entitled to any seats.
But under a scenario that sees National polling 48 per cent (and, say, Labour 35 per cent, the Greens and NZ First 5 per cent, the Maori Party with four seats, and one seat each for Act, United Future and Progressives) and with National keeping the electorate seats it now holds, the party would win another 27 list seats, all the way to number 61 - Marc Alexander, a former United Future MP who will contest Jim Anderton in Wigram.
Four ethnic candidates - Mr Lotu-Iiga, Hekia Parata, Melissa Lee and Mr Bakshi - have been bracketed together on the list, splitting National's large 2005 intake.
Ahead of the four are the 2005 intake considered to have performed well and who are in contention for a ministerial post or big promotion - Chris Finlayson, Tim Groser, Nathan Guy, Jonathan Coleman, Kate Wilkinson, Chris Tremain, Chester Borrows, Craig Foss and Allan Peachey.
Party president Judy Kirk said she was proud of the diversity and calibre of the list and wanted it to be more reflective of the New Zealand community.
EYES ON PARLIAMENTARY CAREER
DEAD-CERT
STEVEN JOYCE - No 16
Chief executive of Jason's Travel Media. National's campaign manager in 2005 and Party Vote campaign manager in 2008. Reviewed the party's disastrous performance at 2002 election and headed restructuring team before becoming the party's general manager for a brief time. As a young man, studied zoology at Massey, established the RadioWorks network and sold it to CanWest. Lives on lifestyle block in Albany with wife and daughter. A list-only candidate.
HIGHLY LIKELY
PESETA SAM LOTU-LIGA - No 35
Auckland City councillor - is chairman of the city development committee. Born in Samoa and raised in Mangere. Law and commerce degree from Auckland. MBA from Cambridge. Has worked for Russell McVeagh, Bankers Trust, and Macquarie Bank. Conferred with chiefly Samoan title Peseta. Active in Penrose Rotary, Greenlane Christian Centre. Lives in Onehunga with his wife. Standing in Maungakiekie.
HEKIA PARATA - No 36
Unsuccessful list candidate in 2002. Resigned from party after Don Brash's Orewa speech. Runs consultancy with husband Wira Gardiner on public policy, gender and cultural equity issues. MA from Waikato with stints at Oxford and Harvard. Former high-ranking public servant. Business interests in manuka honey industry and hospitality sector. Of Ngati Porou and Ngai Tahu descent. Mother of two. Standing in Mana.
MELISSA LEE - No 37
Born in Korea, grew up in Malaysia, lived in Australia and moved to New Zealand in 1988. Degree in communications studies. Twenty years in journalism, including as presenter of Asia Downunder. A director of the Asia Vision company, which makes Asia Downunder for TVNZ. A list-only candidate.
KANWAL BAKSHI - No 38
Born in Delhi, India. Arrived in New Zealand in 2001. Commerce degree from University of Delhi. In business for 23 years. Married with two sons. Standing in Manukau East.
SOME OF THE PROBABLES
PAUL QUINN - No 48
Director of the NZ Rugby Union. Holds economics degree from Lincoln and runs a strategic planning company. Of Ngati Awa, Tuhoe and Te Arawa descent. Standing in Hutt South.
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE - No 49
Chief executive for seven years of Mercy Hospital, Dunedin, and a former executive of ACC. Born and raised in Dunedin. Has commerce and health administration degrees. Standing in Dunedin North.
SIMON BRIDGES - No 51
Crown prosecutor in Tauranga since 2001. Law degree from Auckland and civil law degree from Oxford. Former chairman of Tauranga electorate. Lives in Mt Maunganui Maunganui with wife. Up against Winston Peters in Tauranga.
THE TEAM JOHN KEY OFFERS THE NATION
NAME ELECTORATE
1. John Key, Helensville
2. Bill English, Clutha-Southland
3. Gerry Brownlee, Ilam
4. Simon Power, Rangitikei
5. Dr Nick Smith, Nelson
6. Tony Ryall, Bay of Plenty
7. Judith Collins, Papakura
8. Maurice Williamson, Pakuranga
9. David Carter, List
10. Anne Tolley, East Coast
11.Murray McCully, East Coast Bays
12. Dr Lockwood Smith, Rodney
13. Dr Wayne Mapp, North Shore
14. Chris Finlayson, Rongotai
15. Tim Groser, New Lynn
16. Steven Joyce, List
17. Georgina te Heuheu, List
18. Nathan Guy, Otaki
19. Lindsay Tisch, Waikato
20. Pansy Wong, Botany
21. John Carter, Northland
22. Phil Heatley, Whangarei
23. Dr Paul Hutchison, Hunua
24. Shane Ardern, Taranaki-King Country
25. Dr Richard Worth, Epsom
26. Tau Henare, Te Atatu
27. Sandra Goudie, Coromandel
28. Eric Roy, Invercargill
29. Dr Jonathan Coleman, Northcote
30. Kate Wilkinson, Waimakariri
31. Chris Tremain, Napier
32. Chester Borrows, Whanganui
33. Craig Foss, Tukituki
34. Allan Peachey, Tamaki
35. Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Maungakiekie
36. Hekia Parata, Mana
37. Melissa Lee, List
38. Kanwal Bakshi, Manukau East
39. Jo Goodhew, Rangitata
40. Jacqui Dean, Waitaki
41. Paula Bennett, Waitakere
42. Chris Auchinvole, West Coast Tasman
43. Nicky Wagner, Christchurch Central
44. David Bennett, Hamilton East
45. Dr Jackie Blue, Mt Roskill
46. Katrina Shanks, Ohariu
47. Colin King, Kaikoura
48. Paul Quinn, Hutt South
49. Michael Woodhouse, Dunedin North
50. John Hayes, Wairarapa
51. Simon Bridges, Tauranga
52. Amy Adams, Selwyn
53. Louise Upston, Taupo
54. Todd McClay, Rotorua
55. Tim Macindoe, Hamilton West
56. Aaron Gilmore, Christchurch East
57. Nikki Kaye, Auckland Central
58. Dr Cam Calder, Manurewa
59. Dr Conway Powell, Dunedin South
60. Stephen Franks, Wellington Central
61. Marc Alexander, Wigram
62. Malcolm Plimmer, Palmerston North
63. Mita Harris, Mangere
64. Terry Heffernan, Port Hills
65. Ravi Musuku, Mt Albert
66. Jonathan Young, New Plymouth
67. Richard Whiteside, Rimutaka
68. Paul O'Brien, List
69. Youngshin Watkins, List
70. Hamuera Mitchell, List
71. Viv Gurrey, List
72. Dugald McLean, List
73. Simon O'Connor, List