In a head-to-head contest with another former employment lawyer turned list MP, Helen White has prevailed over Camilla Belich to win the Labour candidacy for the Mt Albert election. White, who was pipped by Chlöe Swarbrick in Auckland Central at the last election, follows a rich Labour lineage in the seat, which has produced party leaders Helen Clark, David Shearer and Jacinda Ardern, whose resignation as Labour leader and prime minister created the vacancy. White was thought to be favoured by the local Labour Electorate Committee and Belich by party HQ.
“Mt Albert has been my home for 30 years, and I love this community. I am honoured to have been selected as Labour’s candidate to represent the people of my local area and to be their voice in parliament,” said White in a statement. “I’ve spent my career as a lawyer standing up for people in need, for people who have needed an advocate and someone to fight their corner. That is the approach I want to take as a local MP – someone people in Mt Albert can rely on to have their backs when they need it.
She added: “I want to acknowledge Camilla Belich who also put herself forward for selection, she is a talented MP and I know we will continue to work well together in caucus to deliver results. I also want to acknowledge outgoing Mt Albert MP Jacinda Ardern. Jacinda will go down as one of New Zealand’s great prime ministers and she has made such a difference in the lives of local people over her years as the MP for Mt Albert. I am honoured to continue her work.”
Labour Party president Jill Day said: “Helen will be a very strong candidate for us in Mt Albert, continuing a proud history of Labour representatives in this electorate. I want to especially acknowledge Camilla Belich who also stood for selection. Camilla is a really valued member of our caucus team and I know she will continue to make a huge contribution to Labour and the success of our government. We had a real contest for this seat – it shows just how much talent Labour has in its ranks that we had two candidates of such high calibre.”
The National candidate will again be list MP Melissa Lee.
