The 15th MP tasked with rebuilding the Labour Party after a disastrous 2014 general election will be unveiled this afternoon.
At 2pm, Labour Party president Moira Coatesworth will announce the new leader after a four-week nationwide tour of the four candidates.
David Parker, Grant Robertson, Andrew Little, and Nanaia Mahuta are contesting the Labour Party leadership position. Photos: Supplied.
Labour MPs Nanaia Mahuta, David Parker, Grant Robertson and Andrew Little are all in the running for the lead role, and stopped in at Tauranga on November 4 as part of the tour.
Former leader David Cunliffe's resignation on September 30 triggered a party-wide leadership election, the result of which will be announced today.
David's resignation came after the National Party gained 47 per cent of the party vote and 60 of the 121 seats in the general election.
Fairfax media reports Andrew and Grant are current frontrunners to win the leadership, with voting closing at noon today.
It has also been reported the Engineer Print and Manufacturing Union, New Zealand's largest trade union, has unanimously backed Andrew to become the next leader.
But this was widely expected given his strong ties to the unions as a former National Secretary of the EPMU.
For deputy leader Grant, this is the second time in just over a year he will contest the leadership after he, Cunliffe and Shane Jones jostled for the position last September.
It is rumoured if Grant gets the top job he will appoint Jacinda Ardern as his deputy.
Current stand-in leader David Parker and Nanaia Mahuta are also in the mix, but not favoured to win.
The Labour Party has a preferential voting system for its leadership under which members, caucus and affiliates rank candidates in order of preference.
Party members and caucus get 40 per cent of voting power while affiliated unions receive the remaining 20 per cent.
In each round the lowest-ranked candidate is knocked out and their supporters' second preference votes are tallied up until one candidate has more than 50 per cent.
After voting closes at noon the announcement of the new leader will be made at 1.45pm. A press conference will then be held at 2pm.
Who do you think will win the labour leadership?
2 comments
The downfall of the workers party
Posted on 18-11-2014 10:58 | By How about this view!
As the grandson of a British mineworker and having been a blue collar worker all of my working life, I am appalled at the pitiful state of the New Zealand Labour party. Not only have they lost my support over the last fifteen years, but they have now lost my respect. WHAT NONSENSE!! The only thing that seems to matter is whether they are all inclusive and seen to be warm and friendly. Get the bl**dy country working - More workers = less individual tax and more resources available for the GENUINELY needy. Forget the rubbish about closing the gap, the gap is there because people work for it. Forget "Child poverty" as well, you can bend the words all you like, but it still comes down to poorly educated and irresponsible ADULTS!!
embarrassing
Posted on 18-11-2014 16:03 | By Captain Sensible
I hope the new leader does not appologise for being a man/woman like the last one
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