The seat was convincingly won in the last election by Labour’s Kiri Allan, who beat National candidate Tania Tapsell to turn around a National stronghold after the resignation of Anne Tolley.
Former East Coast MP Kiri Allan. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Allan, who was also the Justice Minister, resigned from Cabinet in July following personal issues and being charged with careless driving and refusing to accompany police after a crash in Wellington. She did not stand for re-election.
Waiariki list MP Tāmati Coffey changed his decision to retire from politics and was instead picked to be Labour’s East Coast candidate. He lost by more than 3000 votes.
Kirkpatrick said Coffey worked hard, was visible and had a high profile.
“But the electorate understands the need to have someone from there, who lived there, who worked there, who had been a CEO and a general manager there ... But the campaign was respectful and done with dignity, and I was happy about that.”
Kirkpatrick has a background in management and communications and is a mother. She was born and bred in Gisborne.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
