February 13, 2011 8:54am by David Farrar

Carter to Cooks

A senior National MP has been confirmed as the next High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced today Civil Defence Minister John Carter would take up the post in August.

This will leave his Northland seat vacant but the Government can avoid a by-election if the seat becomes vacant within six months of the election date.

75% of Parliament has to agree, but I am sure they will.

John Carter had massive popularity in Northland. It is one of the poorest areas of New Zealand, but he has always had huge majorities. The reason is because he is probably the hardest working constituent MP of this generation.

I recall one giving John a lift up to Palmie. He spent the entire time on his cellphone calling back constituents to give them updates on the issues they had raised with him.

If John brings the same vigour to his job as High Commissioner to the Cooks, I suspect he will be just as popular over there as he is in Northland.