From rocket fire to battle for Mt Albert

David Shearer. Photo / Northern Advocate

Labour's Mt Albert candidate, David Shearer, is lucky to be on the campaign trail at all, having escaped a rocket strike on the United Nations compound in Baghdad.

The rocket landed just 25m from Mr Shearer's quarters in the November strike, killing two people and wounding 15. He was just waking up in his quarters in the fortified Green Zone when it hit.

Mr Shearer, the UN deputy head in Iraq, said indiscriminate rocket attacks were part of life in Baghdad, "the most dangerous place in the world".

But risks have been ever-present in his international career since bullets flew over his head in Somalia in the early 1990s.

In Iraq, he was responsible for a $2 billion budget and was working closely with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and senior ministers to get the bureaucracy working to improve the access of Iraqis to health, education and other services.

Mr Shearer has just resigned his post, having secured the Mt Albert nomination.

He said the motivation that has seen him put his life at risk in the world's battlezones was the same that brought him home to try for national politics: service to others.

Mr Shearer has seen plenty of political conflict here already, being labelled a carpetbagger after being brought in from outside the electorate to contest the seat.

The nomination to replace Helen Clark in Mt Albert was set to go to list MP Phil Twyford until a wrangle within Labour saw him stand aside to avoid Judith Tizard returning to Parliament in his vacant list spot.

Mr Shearer said his connection to Mt Albert was a Kingsland home he renovated and still owned, only a street away from Mr Twyford's home.

He said he was encouraged to stand by Labour leader Phil Goff, who he previously worked for as an adviser.

He decided to stand when contacted by his friend Mr Twyford, who said he wasn't standing. He also heard from Helen Clark, who said "go for it".

Mr Shearer has also been targeted by Prime Minister John Key, the Greens and National-supporting bloggers over research he published in 1998 and 2001 about contracting mercenaries to do peacekeeping duties.

He said the views became out-of-date with changes after September 11, with increased peacekeeping and military support in failed states.

Old school ties

David Shearer will catch up with a former schoolmate on the campaign trail - Act candidate and list MP John Boscawen.

Mr Shearer and Mr Boscawen went to Papatoetoe Central School and Papatoetoe Intermediate together in the 1960s. They also attended the same Sunday school and Bible class at St John's Presbyterian Church.

Mr Shearer then went to Papatoetoe High School, which Labour leader Phil Goff attended.

However, they were not friends - Mr Shearer says the older Mr Goff was long gone before he arrived.

David Shearer

* International aid worker, most recently deputy head of UN Mission in Iraq.

* Also worked in West Bank, Gaza, the Balkans, Rwanda, Somalia and Sri Lanka.

* Unsuccessful Labour candidate in 1999 and 2002.

* Aged 51. Wife Anuschka, children Vetya, 12, and Anastasia, 10.