Thursday, 07 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand / Politics

Hamilton West byelection: The Opportunities Party chooses Naomi Pocock to contest seat

Adam Pearse
By
Adam Pearse
27 Oct, 2022 10:34 PM3 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Naomi Pocock will contest the Hamilton West byelection for The Opportunities Party. Photo / Supplied

Naomi Pocock will contest the Hamilton West byelection for The Opportunities Party. Photo / Supplied

The Opportunities Party will be contesting this year’s byelection in Hamilton West and has confirmed its candidate, Naomi Pocock.

Pocock, 47, was unsuccessful in Hamilton East in the 2020 general election, finishing fourth behind current MP Jamie Strange from Labour, National’s David Bennett and Greens’ Rimu Bhooi.

She replaced TOP’s 2020 candidate for Hamilton West, Hayden Cargo, who had become party secretary after also finishing fourth following his tilt at winning the seat.

Dr Gaurav Sharma, who won Hamilton West in 2020 with Labour, triggered a byelection - set for December 10 - when he announced his shock resignation from his role as independent MP last week.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Former Labour Party member Gaurav Sharma's chances in December's byelection for Hamilton West are being talked up by the National Party. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Former Labour Party member Gaurav Sharma's chances in December's byelection for Hamilton West are being talked up by the National Party. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Since then, both Labour and National have played down their chances. Last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern suspected Sharma’s ugly exit from the party had harmed Labour’s reputation with voters, while National campaign chair Chris Bishop claimed Sharma was a serious contender not to be counted out.

Labour is expected to make its candidate selection for Hamilton West early next week, while National’s is likely to be next weekend.

Those interested in the selection for National included business director Rachel Afeaki–Taumoepeau, health professional Dr Frances Hughes and former Mayor Andrew King. National’s former Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe confirmed he would not be standing.

Meanwhile, Labour sources had pointed to Georgie Dansey as their potential candidate, although a few others were said to have been weighing it up before nominations closed on Wednesday.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Speaking to the NZ Herald, Pocock said she was excited to contest the seat.

“It’s an incredible privilege to be able to stand up and make the case to voters who want to change the status quo.

“I feel very connected to Hamilton and I want to see it grow and develop in a healthy way so that people can build community and a sense of belonging.”

She said she would be campaigning on creating a “fairer society” for the people of Hamilton, particularly those on low incomes.


Naomi Pocock will contest the Hamilton West byelection for The Opportunities Party. Photo / Supplied
Naomi Pocock will contest the Hamilton West byelection for The Opportunities Party. Photo / Supplied

Earlier this month, TOP leader Raf Manji announced the party would create a tax-free income tax threshold, meaning every dollar of income earned up to $15,000 would not be taxed at all. A recent Treasury estimate reckons that would cost the Crown $5.2b.

This would be paid for by an annual tax on residential land values of 0.75 per cent, replacing the current bright-line test, which is a partial capital gains tax. The tax would exempt rural, conservation and Māori land and superannuitants could defer paying it in recognition of their small disposable incomes. TOP reckons the tax could collect $6.75b to $7.5b annually.

“Most people will be better off under this system,” Pocock said.

Asked if she considered herself capable of beating Labour and National, Pocock believed voters would relish the chance to opt for change.

Pocock would not be drawn on whether she felt Sharma had represented his constituents well, but did say she had met him and described him as a “nice guy”.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She did acknowledge the byelection was a waste of taxpayers’ money. The Electoral Commission has estimated byelections cost roughly $1 million.

Pocock, a mother to three boys, was raised on a dairy farm in Te Pahu, southwest of Hamilton. She currently works with the University of Waikato as part of the Āmiomio Aotearoa research project, while also running a charity, STEM Curiosity, that promotes play-based learning of science, technology engineering and maths in schools.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

'Chocka': Napier’s cyclone rebuild key to clearing wool glut

07 Dec 04:30 AM
New Zealand

Multiple Auckland organisations targeted, two schools evacuated after receiving email threats

07 Dec 12:29 AM
live
New Zealand

Hundreds join Brian Tamaki for pro-Israel rally

07 Dec 12:18 AM
Kahu

Haka House hostel chain to cater for local and international travellers

07 Dec 12:15 AM

Toy trends for Christmas

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

'Chocka': Napier’s cyclone rebuild key to clearing wool glut

'Chocka': Napier’s cyclone rebuild key to clearing wool glut

07 Dec 04:30 AM

Summer shearing will see wool 'pouring in the doors'.

Multiple Auckland organisations targeted, two schools evacuated after receiving email threats

Multiple Auckland organisations targeted, two schools evacuated after receiving email threats

07 Dec 12:29 AM
Hundreds join Brian Tamaki for pro-Israel rally
live

Hundreds join Brian Tamaki for pro-Israel rally

07 Dec 12:18 AM
Haka House hostel chain to cater for local and international travellers

Haka House hostel chain to cater for local and international travellers

07 Dec 12:15 AM
More houses coming
sponsored

More houses coming

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP