Scott can't vote for himself

DOING THE ROUNDS: Alastair Scott on the election trail in Masterton yesterday. PHOTO/ LYNDA FERINGA

Wairarapa's National Party candidate Alastair Scott will not be voting for himself, because he can't but the aspiring MP is unruffled by that.

Mr Scott confirmed during a radio election programme featuring himself and Labour candidate Kieran McAnulty that he is enrolled in Wellington Central, his primary residence being in Kelburn where he lives in a rented home with his partner Robyn Noble-Campbell and three of the blended family's six children.

So he will be casting his party vote for National and his electorate vote for Paul Foster-Bell, the National Party's choice to try to unseat Labour's Grant Robertson.

Mr Scott said yesterday he had never pretended to be a full time resident of Wairarapa and had also told people who asked that he divided his time between Wellington and Matahiwi Vineyard, on the outskirts of Masterton.

He is owner of the vineyard and has a house on it.

Ms Noble-Campbell works part-time at the vineyard and the three children still at home will again be attending Wellington schools next year regardless of whether Mr Scott retains the Wairarapa seat for National.

Mr Scott said where he lives is not an issue for anyone other than Mr McAnulty.

"Kieran seems to think where I live is to his advantage but no-one else cares. I made a commitment to Wairarapa 15 years ago, I employ people here and I have invested money here," he said.

Mr Scott said in any event his grandparents are buried in Masterton and his mother is a "Wairarapa College old-girl".

"My roots actually go back generations in Wairarapa but that is irrelevant.

"What is relevant is what experience an MP can bring to the district."

He said what Mr McAnulty failed to realise was that all elected MPs ended up having to have a place to live in Wellington anyway so if "per chance" Mr McAnulty became the MP he would find himself living in Wellington.

Mr Scott said since being selected as National's candidate he has spent most of his time in Wairarapa, often canvassing for support in places off the beaten track such as Otane, Porangahau and Pongaroa.

Voters, he said, wanted to see Wairarapa's population increase, more jobs and economic growth.

"And that's exactly what I want to help with."