Outgoing Act party MP Brooke Van Velden for the Tamaki electorate will be replaced by new party recruit James Christmas. Photo / Supplied
Outgoing Act party MP Brooke Van Velden for the Tamaki electorate will be replaced by new party recruit James Christmas. Photo / Supplied
Former National Party candidate James Christmas will contest the Tāmaki electorate for the Act Party in the upcoming election.
Act announced it had recruited Christmas earlier this month but today revealed he would replace outgoing Act minister and deputy party leader Brooke van Velden asthe candidate for the Auckland seat.
Christmas is a barrister who worked under senior National figures including Sir John Key, Sir Bill English and Chris Finlayson. He is considered a significant loss for National given he was considered a possible option to take on the Attorney-General role and act as a Treaty Negotiations Minister.
With a deep understanding of Treaty settlements and New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements, Christmas also presents as an ideal candidate to articulate the party’s next attempt at constitutional reform after the failed Treaty Principles Bill, which Christmas’ former mentor Finlayson condemned as divisive.
Christmas said has was delighted about his selection and pledged to always be easy to reach and “willing to roll up my sleeves when residents need problems solved”.
“We need a centre-right Government re-elected in New Zealand, but Act shares the frustrations that voters have with the pace of change.
“Act has demonstrated over the last two years the essential role it plays keeping a National-led coalition government on-track and accountable, saving taxpayer money and cutting red tape to secure New Zealand’s prosperity.”
James Christmas will be a candidate for Act at this election. Photo / Supplied
Speaking exclusively to the Herald earlier this month, Christmas acknowledged some in National might be “disappointed” by his decision to switch parties, but he insisted it was not prompted by any ill will towards his former party.
“I’ve looked at where I can make the biggest contribution, and I made a positive decision to [join Act],” he said.
“It’s no more complicated than that, there’s no hidden story there.”
Act leader David Seymour welcomed his newest candidate and did not rule out Christmas holding a leadership role in the party in the future.
“There’s always the possibility, but let’s just see if we can get him elected to Parliament first.”
Christmas, 40, worked for Finlayson during the last National Government’s tenure from 2008-2017 when the latter was Attorney-General, Treaty Negotiations Minister and in charge of the spy agencies.
