McAnulty gets the nod

Long-time aspiring Wairarapa Labour candidate Kieran McAnulty has been announced as Labour's candidate for the region - beating contender Priyanca Radhakrishnan - for a bid to win the Wairarapa seat in 2014.

And his message to "the invisible MP" John Hayes is clear: he means to win.

The decision was made at a meeting held at the Masterton RSA yesterday attended by about 50 Labour Party members and affiliated union members, including Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson.

After a two-hour deliberation by a selection panel of six, comprised of representatives from Labour's head office, the Labour Party ruling council and local members, Mr McAnulty, 28, from Masterton, was announced as the Labour candidate.

Mr McAnulty said, after six years of campaigning, he was "delighted" with the result and hopes to topple National in a seat he believes is winnable.

"It's something I've worked towards for six years now, ultimately it's not just about the fact that I've got the candidacy, I genuinely believe I have the expertise, skills and knowledge to appeal to this electorate.

"I stood today to win, the Wairarapa has been Labour before ... and the Wairarapa can certainly be Labour again.

"I genuinely believe this is a winnable seat [and] I endeavour to reward you with a victory in 2014," Mr McAnulty said.

He said he was also looking forward to holding sitting National MP John Hayes to account.

"At the moment we have an MP that everyone refers to as the invisible MP, I want to provide an alternative to Wairarapa people and say I'm from here, I'm proud to be here and I want to be an ambassador to this region.

"I've been trying to hold John Hayes to account for the eight years he's been MP ... it's going to be an interesting campaign."

Mr McAnulty said his major priority for Wairarapa was regional development.

"At the moment, we're in the lowest paid electorate in the country, I want to promote Labour policies that assist exporters, farmers, businesses ... but also it's assisting those that really are struggling at the moment, there are too many families working for a wage that doesn't give them the necessities of life, so I need to address that.

"It's Labour's approach to support businesses grow and expand, as well as assisting those that are looking for work and in work but struggling to make ends meet."

Deputy chair of the Labour Electorate Committee in Wairarapa, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, 34, from Carterton, said she was disappointed not to take out the candidacy but was supportive of Mr McAnulty.

"I think both of us have put in quite a lot of work into this, so there is a sense of disappointment but Kieran's got my support and I'm definitely looking forward to being part of the team that wins Wairarapa for Labour next year.

"I think he'll make a great [candidate], we're good friends as well," Ms Radhakrishnan said.

Wairarapa was recently named as one of five provincial seats Labour is confident of winning at next year's general election. Labour leader David Cunliffe nominated Wairarapa, Wanganui, Napier, New Plymouth and Te Tai Hauauru as the party's prime provincial targets.