The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Former Federated Farmers chief eyes Act candidacy

Derek Cheng
By Derek Cheng
Senior Writer·NZ Herald·
7 Jul, 2011 05:30 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Former Federated Farmers president Don Nicholson is gearing up for an Act campaign. Photo / File

Former Federated Farmers president Don Nicholson is gearing up for an Act campaign. Photo / File

Former Federated Farmers president and climate change sceptic Don Nicolson appears likely to be a high-ranked candidate for the Act Party this election.

The Herald understands that Mr Nicolson, who has previously made no secret of his political ambitions, has applied to join the party.

He would join Cathy Odgers,
the corporate lawyer and author of the blog Cactus Kate, as a new face in the party.

In a recent interview, Mr Nicolson described his political views as "where the National Party used to be", which is the same description that Act leader Don Brash has used for the Act Party.

Dr Brash said Mr Nicolson would make an excellent candidate.

"If we were to secure Don Nicolson as a candidate for the Act Party, I would be over the moon. He is a person of tremendous ability, and I respect him greatly.

"He has a great deal to offer the Act Party ... The board decides on the list ranking, and I am simply one member of the board."

Parliamentary party leader John Boscawen and party president Chris Simmons both agreed Mr Nicolson would make an excellent match with the party, given Mr Nicolson's opposition to the Emissions Trading Scheme and his support for free markets.

"He'll add a lot of value to the political landscape, and I certainly hope that will be through the Act Party," said Mr Simmons.

Yesterday Mr Nicolson said he had submitted an application to join a political party last week, but would not say which one.

The party board will approve Mr Nicolson's membership at its next meeting at the end of the month, when it is also likely to finalise the party's list.

Current MPs Heather Roy and Sir Roger Douglas will both retire at the end of the parliamentary term. Dunedin-based MP Hilary Calvert is understood to be keen to stand again.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

live
The Country

Stay inside: Nelson residents face new threat tonight

11 Jul 08:18 AM
The Country

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

11 Jul 02:40 AM
The Country

The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

11 Jul 02:21 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Stay inside: Nelson residents face new threat tonight
live

Stay inside: Nelson residents face new threat tonight

11 Jul 08:18 AM

High winds are ramping up.

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

11 Jul 02:40 AM
The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

11 Jul 02:21 AM
Hamish McKay opens up about his dramatic 50kg weight loss

Hamish McKay opens up about his dramatic 50kg weight loss

11 Jul 01:29 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP