Editorial: Fierce battle looming for Tukituki seat

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

Lawrence Yule's decision to throw his hat in the ring for the National Party nomination for the Tukituki seat in this year's general election potentially sets up a very interesting contest with Labour candidate Anna Lorck.

While he obviously still needs to get the nomination, the National Party would be unwise to miss the opportunity of having the current Hastings mayor as their candidate.

There must have been some deal made with National Party hierarchy in Wellington for Mr Yule to be prepared to leave his current job with just less than three years to go. It may be a Cabinet position, but that is unlikely at this stage. It is probably the promise of a high-ish place on the list in case he does not beat Ms Lorck.

National will be please that he put his hand up because they will not want to lose the Tukituki seat in the manner they lost Napier last election. Ms Lorck would have fancied her chances against Craig Foss before he decided to throw in the towel, but Mr Yule is a different proposition altogether.

Even though he has not been an MP before, Mr Yule is a seasoned campaigner with plenty of contacts in Wellington and experience in the hurly-burly of politics thanks to 15 years as a mayor and his role with Local Government NZ.

He is also very popular amongst older residents of the electorate and these are the people who generally vote.

However, his decision has not been met with universal approval with some people remembering his response to a question I asked him at Hawke's Bay Today's Hastings Mayoral Debate last year. He assured the audience that he would see out his full term as mayor.

But, that is politics for you and only time will tell if voters hold this about-turn against him or if they feel aggrieved that, as Ms Lorck put it, he is deserting Hastings District in its time of need (the water crisis).

Make no mistake, this will be a fierce contest with Mr Yule's political nous up against the fighting instincts of Ms Lorck.