McAnulty wins Labour Party policy role

NEW FOCUS: Kieran McAnulty has been elected on to the Labour Party policy council.PHOTO/FILE

Wairarapa Labour Party candidate in 2014, Kieran McAnulty, has been elected to the Labour Party policy council.

The party-wide election for Labour Party president and policy council was held on Thursday and results were announced on Friday.

Mr McAnulty says he is delighted with the result and is looking forward to the opportunity it presents.

"The role of the policy council is to develop policy for Labour's election manifesto. I am pleased to have gained the support of party members, MPs and affiliates to contribute to this process. Policy is ultimately what determines how people vote, so it is a big responsibility but one that I look forward to."

The other candidates elected to the policy council were Michael Wood, Liz Craig, Virginia Anderson and Priyanca Radhakrisnan, formally of Carterton. All five were Labour Party candidates at the 2014 general election.

Mr McAnulty said it was an experienced and capable group of candidates, all of whom would bring different expertise, skills and perspectives to the council.

"My main focus will be providing a credible rural and regional perspective to the policy council. Over the past few years Labour has been committed to developing policies that will benefit regional New Zealand. I know this is a particular focus of Labour leader Andrew Little. So I look forward to building on our existing policy to demonstrate to regional New Zealand that Labour is the only Party truly dedicated to regional development, looking after workers and assisting small business."

The party also elected Professor Nigel Hayworth as president. He previously served on the party's ruling body, as policy council representative.