KEY POINTS:
The great grandson of former prime minister Walter Nash will fight list MP Russell Fairbrother for Labour's Napier candidacy - with the backing of Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen.
Stuart Nash, 40, filed his nomination with the party's headquarters last week.
Dr Cullen was one of the six local financial party members to provide signatures to Mr Nash as one of the requirements of nomination. The nomination sets up a showdown with Mr Fairbrother, who lost the seat in 2005 to National's Chris Tremain.
Mr Fairbrother filed his nomination several weeks ago, despite months of speculation that he would be one of those standing down as part of Labour's rejuvenation drive.
Mr Nash refused to comment on his chances of toppling Mr Fairbrother.
However, he said he was extremely serious about his nomination and had moved back from Auckland to Napier - where he was born and schooled - a few months ago to concentrate on contesting the seat.
The father of two was director of strategic development at Auckland University of Technology.
- NZPA
