National picks Auckland team

National has chosen a range of candidates for Auckland electorates in an attempt to make the party more ethnically representative of New Zealand.

Party president Judy Kirk yesterday announced the selection of nine candidates for the Auckland area. They are:

Jackie Blue (Mt Roskill): Doctor and breast physician.

Mita Harris (New Lynn): Programme manager conservation.

Paul Goldsmith (Maungakiekie): Writer and public relations consultant, who is writing Dr Don Brash's biography and wrote John Banks'.

Paula Bennett (Waitakere): Recruitment manager.

Fepulea'i Ulua'ipou-O-Malo Aiono (Manurewa): Publisher.

Ravi Musuku (Mt Albert): Baptist Church pastor.

Tau Henare (Te Atatu): Consultant and broadcaster. Former NZ First MP and Minister of Maori Affairs.

Clem Simich (Mangere): MP.

Pansy Wong (Auckland Central): MP.

Five are first-time candidates: Jackie Blue, Paul Goldsmith, Paula Bennett, Fepuleal Uluaipou-O-Malo Aiono, and Ravi Musuku.

Tau Henare and Mita Harris stood for National in 2002 in Te Atatu and Te Tai Tokerau respectively. Pansy Wong is a sitting list MP and Clem Simich is the retiring Tamaki MP, who is standing on the list and in Mangere.

Mr Simich, National's shadow Speaker, once stood against David Lange in the Mangere byelection in the 1970s.

The nine join Dr Brash, Tamaki candidate Allan Peachey, Northcote candidate Jonathan Coleman and sitting MPs John Key, Judith Collins, Maurice Williamson, Paul Hutchison, Murray McCully, Richard Worth and Wayne Mapp in contesting Greater Auckland for National.