Departure leaves another safe seat free

Wayne Mapp. Photo / Supplied.

North Shore MP Wayne Mapp has surprised his colleagues by saying he will leave politics after this parliamentary term.

The Cabinet minister's decision opens up a fourth safe National Party seat for new blood next year.

As well as his North Shore seat there is Northland, where John Carter is stepping down; Rodney, where Speaker Lockwood Smith will move to the party list; and Botany, vacated by Pansy Wong.

Dr Mapp's decision was unexpected as he is considered a solid performer who has overseen big changes in his portfolios of Defence and Research, Science and Technology.

He was almost certain of a Cabinet place if National were to win next year's election.

Dr Mapp, who has been in Parliament for 14 years, said he told the Prime Minister of his decision a couple of months ago and John Key responded: "I was expecting a few surprises this year, but you visiting me on this issue was not one of them."

Other possible retirements from the National caucus include Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie and list MP and Cabinet minister Georgina te Heuheu.

"I'm considering my options and I'll discuss them with the Prime Minister in the new year," Mrs te Heuheu told the Herald.

Sandra Goudie did not return calls.

National MPs Allan Peachey, Paul Hutchison, Eric Roy, Lindsay Tisch and Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson all told the Herald they intended to stand again next year.

Dr Mapp, 58, cited family reasons and the time he had left to properly pursue a different career.

"I've reached a certain age in my life. If I'm going to do other things, then this is the time," he said.

He did not have anything lined up at this stage as he still had another year of ministerial work ahead of him.

He has previously been an associate law professor and he has a PhD in international law from Cambridge.

Dr Mapp said stepping down might also open more doors for his wife, Denese Henare, a former Law Commissioner and former Auckland City councillor.

Dr Mapp held a 14,574 majority in the North Shore seat in 2008, increasing it over the years since he won in 1996 with a 10,348 majority.

Meanwhile, the competition for the Botany byelection on March 5 is already heating up.

Newly elected Super City councillor Jami-Lee Ross threw his hat into the ring yesterday, as did Denise Krum, former party president of United Future and co-founder of the TableSide Charitable Trust.

Mr Ross said he would stand down as a councillor if he won the nomination.

They followed former Auckland City councillor Aaron Bhatnagar, who announced his candidacy for Botany within hours of Pansy Wong's resignation.

Darron Gedge, policy chairman of National's northern region and a teacher at Elim Christian College in Botany, is also considering putting his name forward.