Nats select Doocey

NZ Herald reports:

National last night chose Matthew Doocey to contest the Christchurch East byelection.

The vacancy will be created when Labour MP Lianne Dalziel resigns shortly to stand in the Christchurch mayoralty on October 12.

Mr Doocey, aged 41, is a healthcare manager working at the Canterbury District Health Board.

He returned to Christchurch from Britain this year.

Regional National Party chairman Roger Bridge said there were two nominees.

“While an incumbent Government has never won a byelection in a seat it does not already hold, the National family are united behind Matthew as he accepts the challenge to wrest the seat which Labour has held since 1922.”

Matthew’s brief bio is:

Matthew Doocey (41) is married to Hungarian-born wife Viktoria. They have lived in Redwood since returning to Christchurch from the UK earlier this year. He works at the Canterbury District Health Board as a manager in its surgical division.

He went to St Bedes college, then studied counselling psychology at WelTec (Wellington). He has a Bsc (Hons) in Social Policy, an MA in Healthcare Management from Kingston University in London, and an MSc in Global Politics from Birkbeck University in London.   He is also studying towards a Doctorate in Health by distance at Bath University in the UK.

Matthew Doocey has a long career in healthcare management including in the delivery of community mental health and social care services both in voluntary, and Government settings.  He has worked extensively in the voluntary and community sector, including for Youthline NZ.

Congratulations to Matthew. No real chance of winning the seat, but if he does well it would help him in 2014, with the possibility of a winnable list spot.