The party lists: Labour takes care of sitting MPs

In the first of a series on party lists Theresa Garner finds few newcomers in Labour's top rankings.

A high slot for law professor Margaret Wilson, intended to propel her into the role of Attorney-General, is a feature of an otherwise unadventurous party list line-up for Labour.

The party, riding high in the polls, is expected to gain most of its seats from electorate wins, leaving little leeway for fresh blood to enter from the list.

In the last election, Labour promoted eight newcomers in its top 20, but this time it has forsaken the chance to introduce more exciting new talent.

The list instead looks after sitting MPs, who make up all but two of the top 32 list rankings.

Professor Wilson, a former party president and close ally of leader Helen Clark, has extensive contacts and credibility within Maoridom. She is expected to become Minister of Treaty Negotiations in a Labour-led government.

Maori employment adviser Parekura Horomia is the other newcomer poised to walk into Parliament. He is the fourth-ranked Maori on the list, at No 25.

The placings of Dover Samuels (5th), Nanaia Mahuta (10th) and Tariana Turia (16th) indicate the party's keenness to recapture the Maori voters who punished Labour at the polls in 1996.

Labour's rules require that the list compilers aim for a fair mix of Maori, ethnic groups, gender and age, and that there is a sprinkling of people from other racial minorities.

The two Pacific Island MPs, Taito Phillip Field and Mark Gosche, are in the top 20 while the third-highest-ranked newcomer, Wellington Pacific Island leader Winnie Laban, is ranked 33rd.

Eight women make the top 20 but a number of new female faces will not make the cut under current polling.

Joe Hawke, the last ranking MP, will be returned on current polling but he may be at the cut-off point.

Labour's list is heavy with former teachers and union officials. It includes former MPs Chris Carter and lawyer John Blincoe.

Any list-only contenders ranking below Mr Blincoe (at the outside) are likely to be academic.

The most colourful person on the list, transsexual Carterton Mayor Georgina Beyer, will have to win the Wairarapa contest to make the House.

Non-MP constituency candidates not on the list who may push out list tailenders by winning their electorates include Martin Gallagher in Hamilton West and John Tamihere in Hauraki.

Five MPs are not on the list, putting their political futures (all considered safe) in the hands of their electorates. They are Damien O'Connor in West Coast Tasman, Tim Barnett in Christchurch Central, Ross Robertson in Manukau East, George Hawkins in Manurewa and Geoff Braybrooke in Napier.

The Waimakariri seat vacated by former Prime Minister Mike Moore, now World Trade Organisation chief, should stay Labour under his anointed heir, Clayton Cosgrove.