Labour in Otaki

NZPA report:

Raumati lawyer Peter Foster will contest the Otaki seat for the Labour Party in November’s election.

Mr Foster also sought the Mana by-election nomination.

Labour Party President Moira Coatsworth today described Mr Foster as a family man who had lived and worked in Otaki for 11 years.

“I have every confidence that Peter will hit the ground running and bring the Otaki seat back to Labour,” Moira Coatsworth said.

Mr Hughes held the Otaki seat for two terms before losing to National’s Nathan Guy in 2008 by 1354 votes.

Both Darren and Nathan were highly respected local MPs. That s why the seat was so close in 2005 and 2008. Mr Foster has some large shoes to fill, and the potential is there for Nathan to turn the seat from marginal to safe.