Russell
Palmer Political reporter
National
has named former Newshub journalist Jessica Rowe as the
candidate to replace Chris Penk in Kaipara ki
Mahurangi.
Penk,
the incumbent MP, pulled
his candidacy for the seat after being stripped of his
portfolios following a challenge to Prime Minister
Christopher Luxon’s leadership last month.
Rowe worked
as a journalist before gaining a Masters in Global Diplomacy
and working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade.
Her family runs a century-old haberdashery
business in Auckland, has her own wool and property business
interests, and co-chairs the Australia New Zealand
Leadership Forum’s emerging leaders programme, and is a
board director for the Student Volunteer Army.
She was
formerly seconded from MFAT to Nanaia Mahuta and Simon
Watts’ offices and is now a ministerial advisor in Louise
Upston’s office.
She is engaged to Department of Prime
Minister and Cabinet secretary and chief executive Ben
King.
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“I am excited to get to work, meeting locals
across the electorate to re-elect a National Government and
to be Kaipara ki Mahurangi’s next National MP,” Rowe
said.
“National has been fixing the basics for Kaipara
ki Mahurangi. Inflation is down from Labour’s 32-year high
and there are 220,000 new jobs expected to be created over
the next four years.
“Confidence has rebounded in the
economy, manufacturing is up, exports are at record numbers,
and wages are expected to rise faster than
prices.
“With the economic recovery underway, now is
not the time to place more costs on Aucklanders.
“That
is why I am proud to support National’s pledge of no new
taxes because Kiwis deserve to keep more of what they earn.
The alternative is at least nine new taxes under a Labour,
Greens, Te Pāti Māori, TOP
Government.”
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