PM may offer former mayor a job

Kerry Prendergast. Photo / Getty Images

Ousted Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast may not have to wait long for a new job - Prime Minister John Key is keeping an eye out.

Ms Prendergast was Wellington's mayor from 2001 until yesterday when a final count of votes in the Wellington mayoral race put her opponent Green Party member Celia Wade-Brown ahead by 176 votes.

Ms Prendergast ran as a National Party list candidate in the 1999 general election.

Mr Key said while Ms Prendergast had not asked him for a job there may be an appointment for her.

"I think she's a very talented individual, she's done a great job here in Wellington and I'm not going to rule out offering her an opportunity somewhere else."

That may include running for National in the Wellington Central electorate or a board appointment, he said.

"The appointment and honours committee meets every week and it's very busy, so there's always an array of appointments and we're always looking for people that are talented, she may be a candidate for that."

Mr Key said he would be able to work with Ms Wade-Brown despite their political differences.

He rang Ms Wade-Brown last night to congratulate her.

"MMP's taught us to learn to work with political parties and leaders from all sorts of different parties, we work with the Green Party ourselves."

As prime minister it was his job to work with local government bodies, it was up to the people of Wellington to elect their mayor.

"It would be a little churlish of me to chose to only work with centre-right mayors and not work with left-wing mayors."

- NZPA