National picks former press secretary Nicola Grigg for safest seat in the country

Nicola Grigg, National's candidate in Selwyn. Photo / Supplied

A former National Party press secretary and former journalist, Nicola Grigg, has been selected as the party's candidate for the safe seat of Selwyn.

She is a former press secretary to Simon Bridges and to Sir Bill English, when he was Finance Minister and Prime Minister, and described those jobs in a statement as a career highlight.

She left work in the Beehive to return to Canterbury and made no secret of her ambition to become an MP.

Selwyn MP Amy Adams is retiring from politics at the 2020 election after four terms in Parliament.

The seat has had the highest majority of any party in the past two elections, with Adams' current majority being 19,639.

Grigg, 39, works for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in Canterbury helping mainly Canterbury-based agricultural exporters.

She was born in Canterbury and grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Mt Somers.

She studied at the New Zealand Broadcasting School in Christchurch working at some point for Newstalk ZB and RNZ.

In 2011 she was in a relationship with former All Black captain Richie McCaw.

In a statement about her selection today, she said the people of Selwyn knew the value of hard work and expected their Government to spend their tax dollars wisely.

"Labour and its coalition partners have talked a big game but failed to deliver on its promises."

She also paid her former boss a big compliment.

"Having worked for Simon Bridges, I've seen up close his intellect and understanding of what truly matters to Kiwis.

"He and his team around him know to run the economy to make sure it's thriving and able to meet the needs of all New Zealanders."