KEY POINTS:
Christchurch High Court judge Graham Panckhurst has reserved his decision on a challenge to the fairness of the National Party's candidate selection process.
Roger Payne is challenging the process after he failed to gain selection as candidate for the Selwyn electorate.
The essence of Mr Payne's complaint is that the central party officials in the National Party illegally overrode local members at the pre-selection phase last year when he was dumped as a possible candidate in Selwyn.
"The people in the electorate of Selwyn deserve someone who is of immediate Cabinet material, I am able to offer that opportunity," Mr Payne told the court.
National's lawyer, Peter Kiely, said its rules for selecting parliamentary candidates were more democratic than other parties.
Justice Panckhurst said his calendar was "crushing" and he reserved his decision.
He said he would deliver it as soon as possible.
- NZPA
