Strong hint that Jones will be high on Labour list

Prime Minister Helen Clark today gave her strongest hint yet that Waitangi Fisheries Commission chairman Shane Jones will be highly placed on the Labour Party list rankings for this year's election.

The list was to be announced in Wellington yesterday but fog at Wellington airport disrupted travel plans.

The meeting was switched to Auckland airport but discussions ran over time and the announcement was delayed until this afternoon.

Helen Clark would not be drawn on placings this morning but indicated that Mr Jones was on a path to Parliament.

"I think you'd be on pretty sound ground to be saying that Shane looks set to be heading for Parliament," she told TVNZ.

"I won't talk about particular rankings but I'm very confident that he'll be there.

"I think you'll find that he has been marked out as a very, very big prospect and he'll get suitable attention."

Former party president Maryan Street is also expected to get a high placing on th list.

Retirements have not opened up many places on the list.

Besides Speaker Jonathan Hunt, the only other Labour MPs who have said they are retiring are electorate MPs Janet Mackey and Mark Peck, and list MP Helen Duncan.

Georgina Beyer has also elected not to contest Wairarapa, relying on a list position to be returned to Parliament.

The moderating committee that decides the list placings includes Helen Clark, her deputy Michael Cullen, Labour Party president Mike Williams, general secretary Mike Smith and representatives of MPs and Labour Party councils.

- NZPA