Labour confirms Nash as candidate for Napier seat

Former Napier Labour List MP Stuart Nash has been confirmed as Labour's candidate for Napier in this year's general election.

In a statement today, Labour announced that Mr Nash had been confirmed as candidate for the seat to be vacated by Chris Tremain, at a meeting of the Labour Party last night.

The National Party will make its decision on a candidate next month, after announcing that three people would contest its nomination. The three are Founder of Smart Business NZ Ltd, Adrienne Pierce, who was elected to the Hastings District Council just four months ago, Taradale author and businesswoman Deborah Burnside and Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce's new chief executive Wayne Walford.

Mr Nash said he was honoured to be confirmed as Labour's candidate and would continue to work very hard on the issues that the people of Napier were telling him are important.

"It's a privilege to represent Labour in Napier and I would love the opportunity to represent the people of Napier in parliament after the election."

Labour party president, Moira Coatesworth, said: "We're very happy to have Stuart as the party's candidate as he has worked hard for Labour and the people of Napier for five years now, and has proven to be a very effective representative for the city and the region."

Labour Party leader David Cunliffe said he was confident that Stuart could bring the Napier seat back into the Labour fold. "I look forward to welcoming Stuart back into caucus after this year's election as the MP for Napier. He is a fantastic candidate and will be a very good MP".

Ms Coatsworth said she was impressed by the way Stuart had continued to work tirelessly for Labour in Napier even after he missed out on getting back into parliament in 2011, and she believed his hard work wouldl help ensure that he won the seat in this year's election.

"Stuart shows a real passion for Napier and from what I am hearing on the ground, he has a very good chance to win this seat back for Labour" she said.