Todd McClay rockets up National Party list

National Party MP Todd McClay.

Rotorua MP Todd McClay has shot up the National Party list but he says he is not putting too much thought into his "pleasing ranking" because his ultimate goal is to get elected as the local MP.

Mr McClay is number 23 on the list, rising from number 47 at the last election. It is the second biggest promotion within the ranks, behind Jami-Lee Ross, from Botany, who rose one more place than Mr McClay. Based on current polls, Mr McClay will easily make it into Parliament on the list at the September 20 elections.

But Mr McClay said although he was naturally pleased with the promotion, he wasn't interested in being a list MP and had his sights firmly set on winning the Rotorua seat.

"I've never wanted to just be an MP, I've always wanted to be a constituent MP so I haven't even looked at the numbers. I'm firmly focussed on being the Rotorua MP."

Mr McClay said he expected there to be some movement in his list placing given his ministerial promotion last year and he was "delighted" to see that had been recognised.

He believed he has been given the push up the list as acknowledgement of three projects he had been instrumental in getting for Rotorua during the past three years. These included ongoing support for the clean-up of Lake Rotorua, the Rotorua Children's Team for supporting vulnerable children project and the Excel Rotorua education programme.

"They have been programmes that have been put in place in Rotorua and my jumping forward is recognition of those achievements."

Meanwhile, National has sent a clear signal it will do a deal in the Ohariu and Epsom electorates by ranking its candidates in those electorates in high list places.

The highest ranked non-MP is Brett Hudson, National's new candidate in Ohariu. Ohariu is currently held by United Future leader Peter Dunne, one of the National Government's support partners.

Prime Minister John Key is expected to announce next week whether he will guide National voters in Ohariu and Epsom to give their electorate votes to Mr Dunne and Act's David Seymour in those electorates to try to ensure National has support partner options.

Mr Hudson is the only non-MP who is ranked above some sitting MPs, at 39th place on the list and on current polling is a certainty to get into Parliament.

Epsom candidate Paul Goldsmith is ranked at 30 - nine slots above his 2011 ranking. Mr Key is also expected to decide whether to cut a similar deal in East Coast Bays.

Announcing the list, Peter Goodfellow said most MPs and ministers were ranked in similar order to their caucus rankings.

Mr Goodfellow said the number of retiring MPs meant National was likely to be able to bring in about 13 new faces if it achieved the same result as the 2011 election.

New candidates with high list placings include Parmjeet Parmar who is the highest ranked new candidate after Mr Hudson at 48, while Hutt South candidate Chris Bishop is placed at 49.