National torn over Mt Albert candidacy

The National Party is embroiled in a backroom power struggle over its Mt Albert candidate, with the hierarchy's favourite, Melissa Lee, trying to tip out grassroots toiler Ravi Musuku.

Ms Lee is a list MP and one of National's new stars. Mr Musuku stood unsuccessfully against Helen Clark in the last two elections.

The hierarchy/grassroots divide is deepened by the selection process, with the 60-strong panel of party delegates made up of appointments from both sides. The panel will vote on Monday night.

A number of new local members have been ruled ineligible after they were signed up in a recent "recruitment drive".

The local electorate organisation's proportion of the panel is based on the number of party members it has. National Party northern region chairman Alastair Bell decides the rest.

Mr Bell would not reveal the numbers on each side, saying: "I don't think that's the business of anyone but the National Party."

Mr Bell said head office reviewed the membership records to decide eligibility.

Those signed up in the "considerable recruitment drive" this year had been ruled ineligible for the panel because of party rules that they must have been members for six months.

Mr Bell said those members were also not counted in the calculation for the panel's make-up, as the rules said it must be based on the membership as of last year.

The numbers are important. If the electorate has 500 members, it will get to appoint 33 delegates and Mr Bell 27. If it has 220, it gets to appoint 15 and Mr Bell 45.

Mr Bell would say only that he would be appointing a "fair number" of delegates to the panel. He had used his discretion to appoint some from outside Mt Albert, but most would be from within the electorate.

He also confirmed that a bid from the local electorate organisation for a different sort of selection process called "universal suffrage" has been turned down.

Universal suffrage means that instead of the panel, the decision is made by a vote of all the local members.

National's rules state that universal suffrage must be applied for at least a month before nominations are opened.

Mr Bell said the truncated timeline leading up to the byelection meant there was not enough time for it.

Neither Mr Musuku nor Ms Lee would comment yesterday.

Internal Affairs Minister Richard Worth, one of National's conduits with the Indian community, would not say who he was supporting out of Ms Lee and Mr Musuku.

"I'm neutral. I'm not involved in the process at all," Dr Worth said.

The best example of an on-paper favourite losing a National candidate selection was David Kirk, the medical doctor, Rhodes Scholar and World Cup-winning All Black captain.

Dr Kirk tried to win the Tamaki nomination after Sir Robert Muldoon's retirement in 1992, but was beaten by local party figure Clem Simich.

Meanwhile, Labour nominee Meg Bates said her mother, Pam Nuttall, would stand aside from their party's selection process. Pam Nuttall is the acting chairwoman of Labour's Mt Albert electorate committee.

Meg Bates said the conflict of interest meant her mother would not take up one of the local committee's three places on the panel at Sunday's candidate selection meeting.

Act will name its candidate tomorrow, and United Future will name its in two weeks. Jim Anderton's Progressive Party will not be contesting the byelection. It has endorsed Labour.

NATIONAL'S NOMINEES

*Melissa Lee List MP
Former Asia Downunder journalist. First Korean woman to be elected as an MP outside Korea. Named the world's 52nd most beautiful female politician in recent international internet poll.

*Ravi Musuku
Pastor from Hillsborough Baptist Church. Indian immigrant. Stood against Helen Clark in past two elections, increasing party vote and personal showing both times.

HOW IT WORKS
*The candidate is chosen by majority vote from a panel of at least 60 delegates.
*The electorate organisation can appoint one delegate for every 15 local members it has.
*If this does not make up the 60 - as in Mt Albert - the regional chair appoints the rest.
*The regional chair's appointments are by discretion, and while they should be local, do not have to be.