FLASHBACK: National MP for Tukituki Craig Foss at a Hawke's Bay Today debate in the run up to last general elections. PHOTO/FILE
FLASHBACK: National MP for Tukituki Craig Foss at a Hawke's Bay Today debate in the run up to last general elections. PHOTO/FILE
The National Party is not revealing if it has received any nominations to challenge three-term MP Craig Foss for the Tukituki candidacy for next year's general election.
The nominations were opened by public notice 10 days ago and close next Monday, but a spokesperson for the party's national headquarters inWellington said that the only announcement will be when the candidate is confirmed.
Party rules bar prospective nominees from announcing their intentions publicly, including Mr Foss, who was at the centre of a 8812-votes turnaround in his first two elections.
Candidate for the first time in 2002 he was on the losing end of a 6410 majority to Labour incumbent Rick Barker, but reversed the outcome three years later with his own majority of 2402.
The Labour Party has already confirmed 2014 candidate Anna Lorck's second bid for the Tukituki seat but National Party regional co-ordinator Mark Nicholson said the party is in the early stages of its candidacy search nationwide.
Nominations are yet to be called for National's bid in Napier, which includes Wairoa. The incumbent, Labour's Stuart Nash, is hoping to go a second term, although his party's candidacy in Napier is yet to be decided.
Both parties are yet to select candidates in Wairarapa, which includes Central Hawke's Bay, although Labour's 2014 candidate, Kieran McAnulty, has confirmed he wants another go as the party tries to claw back the majority of 6771 taken by National's Alastair Scott when he succeeded outgoing National MP John Hayes at that poll.
