Labour wife predicts losses

Julie Fairey. Photo / Supplied

The wife of a highly-placed Labour candidate has predicted the party is likely to lose several marginal electorates.

Julie Fairey, who is married to Michael Wood - number 32 on Labour's list - wrote on the Hand Mirror feminist blog that National would probably retain Auckland Central, Maungakiekie and Hamilton West. Labour lost all three seats in 2008 and was keen to get them back in November's general election.

Fairey told the Herald on Sunday she supported Labour's candidates but Auckland Central was likely to be the only contest that was too close to call.

She said National's strong polling and the difficulty of defeating a sitting MP were likely to have an effect on electorate results.

"The benefit of incumbency is pretty strong."

High-profile Labour MP Jacinda Ardern is standing in Auckland Central.

Fellow list MPs Sue Moroney and Carol Beaumont are standing in Hamilton West and Maungakiekie respectively.

Fairey, a former Alliance Party candidate, did not think her predictions were damaging to Labour's brand because she was not part of its "message machine", despite being married to Wood.

Labour leader Phil Goff refused to comment on Fairey's comments but said he had every confidence the three candidates would do well at the election.

Ardern said Fairey's blog was just one of many making predictions. She was happy with the campaign so far.

Beaumont said she was confident about the campaign ahead. "In the end the decision won't be made by independent commentators. It will be made by the people of Maungakiekie."