Nicola Willis tried but failed to woo women for the National Party candidacy at the Tauranga by-election. While the leadership can’t interfere with the selection process, the deputy leader is confident more diverse people will step up for the party in Hamilton-West.
National’s deputy leader is confident her party members want to see New Zealand better reflected in its MPs, starting with the Hamilton-West by-election on December 10.
When Simon Bridges unexpectedly quit politics, prompting a by-election in his Tauranga seat in June, the National Party had its first opportunity to rectify its diversity problem under the new leadership of Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis.
What transpired was the nomination of four white men; local delegates went on to select Sam Uffindell to represent the party at the by-election.
Uffindell won the seat but within a week of his maiden speech in Parliament, he was suspended from caucus after an investigation was launched into historic bullying behaviour.
In September the party welcomed him back after KC Maria Dew concluded the allegations made against Uffindell couldn’t be substantiated.
Independent MP Gaurav Sharma’s resignation from Parliament earlier this month has triggered a by-election in the Hamilton-West seat and given the National Party a second chance to address its diversity problem.
Currently there are more Christophers than Māori in the party and just 11 of its 33 MPs are women.
“I know our members look at New Zealand today and want the National Party to reflect that, so I know that will be brought to bear in their decision-making." - Nicola Willis
Nominations for Hamilton-West for both National and Labour close on Wednesday. This comes just one day after Parliament tipped into an equal share of seats for both women and men following the swearing in of Labour’s Soraya Peke-Mason.
Labour's caucus already has an equal share of men and women after meeting the equal gender split target at the 2020 election.
Willis told Newsroom a diverse range of people, including women, have already expressed interest in the nomination for the Hamilton-West seat.
“I’ve spoken with the party president Sylvia Wood, and her and I both agree we want a diverse range of people putting their names forward for Hamilton-West.
“She shares my desire and I know she’s having those conversations with the party as is appropriate,” Willis told Newsroom.
The New Zealand Herald has reported at least seven people have already put their hat in the ring for National, including business director Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau, health professional Dr Frances Hughes, former Mayor Andrew King and National’s former MP in the seat, Tim Macindoe.
National's selection process involves the board vetting those nominated, followed by a selection panel deciding on a shortlist before delegates from the local electorate make the final decision on who the candidate will be.
During the Tauranga candidate selection process earlier this year, Willis spoke to senior party members in the electorate about ensuring women were encouraged to run.
She offered to speak with any women interested in running if the electorate members thought a conversation with Willis might help get them across the line.
No women ended up being shortlisted by the party.
On the candidate selection currently underway, Willis said she is proud of the “democratic process” in the party that lets delegates and members of the electorate make the decision.
“I know our members look at New Zealand today and want the National Party to reflect that, so I know that will be brought to bear in their decision-making,” she said.
“As they scrutinise the people that come before them, they’ll come to the best choice.”
Luxon has set out expectations to the party board and members as to the types of candidates he wants selected not only at the by-election, but at next year’s general election.
“I want diversity in the bloodstream of the National Party.”
He accepts the winning candidate is a decision for the electorate and there are no levers he or Willis can pull if a diverse candidate isn’t chosen.
“What I can say is I spent most of the summer working with Sylvia Wood getting clear on the profiles that we wanted to see added to our caucus … but also the behaviours and competencies as well.
“That message goes down to our individual electorates to make their decisions.”
