Falloon selected for Rangitata

Stuff reports:

The new National candidate for Rangitata is Andrew Falloon. 

Falloon, born and raised in the region, said it was a “great honour being chosen by local National members to run for Parliament in my home electorate”.

“Rangitata, or Mid and South Canterbury, is deeply a part of who I am and my family’s history. I know our communities well – their aspirations, and the challenges they face.”

He said he would work hard to earn the trust of local communities to “represent them in a National team that will build on the successes of the last few years”.

After studying political science at the University of Canterbury, Falloon has had several researcher or advisory roles in Parliament. He currently works as an Associate Director at the New Zealand Bankers Association.

Falloon will replace current Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew, who has held the seat since 2005. Goodhew was stripped of her ministerial roles during a cabinet reshuffle in December, and announced soon after that she would not seek re-election. 

Falloon said Goodhew had been a “fierce advocate for our area and regional New Zealand”. 

I know Andrew well. He is a great guy who will be a good MP if he retains the seat.

While the seat has a huge majority of 14,107 I think it could be a closer contest than last time. The Labour candidate in 2014 was disowned by the party leadership for his anti-semitic comments about John Key. The new Labour candidate Jo Luxton seems to be one of the better Labour candidates, and of course the retirement of the incumbent MP.