Anna Lorck steps down as PR company director

Anna Lorck says Tukituki comes first. Photo/File

Aspiring MP Anna Lorck has moved quickly to quell a perception of conflict of interest in her election campaign by deciding to step-down as a director of the high-flying public relations and promotions business she runs with her husband.

Lorck, the Labour Party's newly-selected Tukituki electorate candidate and husband Damon Harvey are directors of Attn! marketing PR, but says she will focus her full attention on winning the election.

"I want to work hard for Tukituki and this will take 100 per cent commitment," she said in a prepared statement.

"Tukituki deserves a stronger voice, an MP that fronts for our region, and one who is connected to the community and understands the challenges our people and their families face every day."

But she also said in standing for Parliament it was "important to remove any perception of conflicts of interest that may arise from working for, or representing an organisation."

"The best approach is to remove this right at the start," said Ms Lorck, who 12 days ago won the job trying to reverse the 9660-vote majority claimed at the 2011 election by National's Craig Foss, who is seeking election to a fourth term.

The company profile of involvement with major business personalities, including the A Better Hawke's Bay group local government amalgamation proposal, has also been seen as a relationship with National Party supporters, but Mr Foss said he hadn't been a client of the company or connected to its operations "apart from the apple campaign a few years ago".

He said it was inappropriate for him to comment on whether there would be a conflict.

"That's entirely up to her and her company," he said.

There is also conjecture on potential conflicts of interest between National Party Napier candidate Wayne Walford and his position as Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce chief executive during the campaign up to the triennial General Election on September 20.

Mr Walford was unable to be contacted late yesterday, but has previously referred questions on the issue to Chamber president Brent Linn, who is expected to clarify the organisation's position today.