The National Party has unveiled its election year list, with a number of first term MPs surging into the top 20.

It’s substantially different from the list that National released prior to the 2020 election, understandable given the change of leadership in 2021, a pair of byelections (Tauranga and Hamilton West), and the typical moves that happen over a parliamentary term.

However, the top 20 is pretty as expected, with the first few filled out by Christopher Luxon followed by Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop, Shane Reti and Paul Goldsmith. Simeon Brown is in slot nine and former leader Judith Collins rounds out the top 10.

There are 21 women and 19 men in the top 40, which Luxon said was proof of his goal to oversee increased diversity within the National Party (however, there are just eight women in the top 20). There are candidates from European, Māori, Indian, Pacific Island and Korean backgrounds, he said. “We are refreshing and renewing the National Party. The choice for New Zealand couldn’t be any starker,” he told reporters today. “I made a commitment I would improve diversity when I took over the leadership.”

First term MPs Penny Simmonds, Simon Watts, and Nicola Grigg snap up spots in the top 20 – 16, 17, and 19 respectively – with  a handful of candidates currently not in parliament in the early 20s. Nancy Lu, Suze Redmayne, Katie Nimon, and Catherine Wedd are ranked 20, 21,22, and 23.

“I am absolutely confident that this is the team that will provide New Zealanders with strong, stable government,” said party president Sylvia Wood. “The list is determined a committee of delegates, democratically elected across the country.”

The full list:

Long-serving National MP Michael Woodhouse has withdrawn from the party’s election year list, saying he didn’t believe the position offered would have resulted in a ministerial role should his party win the election.

Party leader Christopher Luxon has announced the list today (more to come on this), with Woodhouse’s list absent.

In a post on Facebook, shared moments before the list was unveiled, Woodhouse said the ranking offered to him made it clear he was “not part of the leadership’s thinking regarding Ministerial positions”. As a result, he has chosen not to run on the list and will instead contest the same Dunedin seat he has been unsuccessful in for the last few elections.

“I feel the best thing to do is to stand aside and allow a fresher face into the Caucus from the list,” he said. “I do so somewhat sad about the process of my departure from political life but overwhelmingly grateful to have been able to serve the people in the Party I love for the past fifteen years. No bitterness, just fond memories and fantastic friendships made.”

Luxon told reporters he had a conversation with Woodhouse and respected his decision. “I wish him well. He’s had a fantastic career over 15 years.”