MP Swain to leave politics

Rimutaka Labour MP Paul Swain today announced he will stand down at the next election.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to have represented the people of Eastern Hutt (1990-1996) and Rimutaka (1996 to now) over those years," he said.

"However by the next election it will be time for me to move on to new challenges and to make way for someone else to represent the electorate."

Mr Swain served nine years in opposition, six as a Cabinet Minister and three as a Government backbencher.

He said he was proud of the electorate work he had done.

"I am extremely proud of what the Labour-led Government has achieved under Prime Minister Helen Clark and I will be doing my bit to remind people of those achievements leading up to the next election."

Mr Swain said he timed his announcement to give the party enough time to select a candidate before Christmas.

- NZPA