National chooses Rotorua candidate

Todd McClay has been selected to stand for the National Party in Rotorua in this year's general elections.

The 39-year-old Rotorua businessman will run against incumbent Rotorua MP, Labour's Steve Chadwick.

Mr McClay is married with four children and was raised in Rotorua and Taupo.

Mr McClay said he was proud to be representing this region in the election later this year.

"I'm feeling really good we had five great candidates this year and it has been a long time since we have had such a high calibre of candidates and it feels great to have come out on top."

Mr McClay said he was looking forward to getting out on the campaign trail and meeting his constituents.

Five National Party members vied for the Rotorua candidacy - forestry consultant Don Hammond, property investor Alan Hulton, lawyer Sandra Kai Fong, Hamuera Mitchell, a self-employed businessman, and Mr McClay, a self-employed policy relationship manager.



Rotorua National Party Electorate chairman Ian Patchell said Mr McClay will bring enthusiasm, commitment and passion to his new role.

"I know Todd will represent us well as the new Member of Parliament," he said.

Gil Stehbens, the Takapuna dentist who nearly wrested the Rotorua electorate seat from Mrs Chadwick as National's local candidate in the last election, has said the seat is National's for the taking.

Mr Stehbens said Rotorua was "most definitely" a marginal seat now for Labour.

Mrs Chadwick has dismissed his comments, saying her election campaign would be aimed at securing the electorate seat for a fourth term.