New political hopeful and National Party Napier candidate Katie Nimon has been given a hope of a list seat in Parliament after a rankings rearrangement announced by party leader Judith Collins at the weekend.
Not on any previous list, the Havelock North bus company operator comes in at No 45 – the highest-ranked new candidate and just one position below lowest-ranked current Opposition parliamentarian Jo Hayes (a List MP standing in the Mana electorate).
By contrast, former Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon, a first-time candidate standing in Botany electorate and touted for more than a year as a National Party leader of the future, is ranked just 61 of the 75 on the list.
Officially, nominations open at the end of this week, and close on August 21. The vote ends on September 19.
Nimon was told of the placement by the National Party lower North Island region leadership a few hours before the late Saturday release.