Peachey's health may force National to pick new Tamaki candidate

Allan Peachey. Photo / Supplied

Tamaki MP Allan Peachey is understood to be considering standing aside in November as fresh concerns emerge about his health.

Mr Peachey was elected to the safe National seat in 2005 but was diagnosed with cancer shortly afterwards.

He recovered after a 12cm tumour and his right kidney were removed but had to take a break of several weeks last year after a lung collapsed.

This year he contracted septicaemia which affected his appearance, but more recently appeared in Parliament bald.

At the time, he told the Herald he was not receiving chemotherapy but had shaved his hair off "for a reason" and would not comment on his health.

However, the Herald understands Mr Peachey met party president Peter Goodfellow and about 25 members of the Tamaki electorate committee on Sunday evening where his ability to contest the election and serve a third term were discussed.

Mr Peachey, who had previously told committee members of a "cancer scare" this year, did not go into specifics about his health on Sunday but told the meeting of his "very rough year".

The Herald understands he told the meeting he would indicate whether he would continue as National's candidate and MP for Tamaki to Mr Goodfellow very shortly.

Neither Mr Peachey nor Mr Goodfellow returned the Herald's calls yesterday.

Mr Peachey, 61, a former principal of Rangitoto College, holds the blue ribbon Tamaki seat with an enormous 17,020 vote majority.

The seat, for many years held by former National Party Prime Minister Rob Muldoon, would be a great prize for aspiring candidates.

Act parliamentary leader John Boscawen who expects to retire from politics following the election is standing in Tamaki in a bid to lift Act's party vote.