Little ponders tilt at New Plymouth electorate

Labour Party top-dog Andrew Little could step forward for a tilt at the New Plymouth electorate seat in next year's national elections.

Mr Little, the party's president and touted by many as a future Labour leader and prime minister, has refused to rule out the possibility.

"It's certainly no secret I want to get into Parliament next year," he told the Taranaki Daily News yesterday.

"As to how I do that, or where, I've made no decisions."

He said he hopes to have made a decision within the next two or three months and wouldn't rule out running in New Plymouth.

The city electorate is often viewed as a swing seat come election time and in 2008 National candidate Jonathan Young squeaked in past Labour's 15-year encumbent MP Harry Duynhoven, with the tightest margin in the country – just 105 votes.

Mr Little has strong personal and family links to New Plymouth, having grown up here.

He left in the early 1980s but still returns five or six times a year, he said.

The visits have become more frequent since he took a position on the board of directors at Witt, he said.

Mr Duynhoven's future plans remain uncertain – he has not said whether he will run for the New Plymouth mayoralty come October or whether he would be interested in another shot at winning the New Plymouth seat back.

When approached by the Taranaki Daily News he said he would not speculate on Mr Little's plans.

Likewise, Mr Little said he did not know what Mr Duynhoven's plans were.

"If I thought I could offer something to New Plymouth I would have to speak to the local party organisation," he said.

"I'm nowhere near that yet."

On a visit to New Plymouth last week, Labour leader Phil Goff was asked if he knew about Mr Little's plans.

"I haven't heard anything from him," Mr Goff said.

"He is a New Plymouth boy.

"I would say we will pick our candidate later this year.

"Harry was popular and he only lost by a small number of votes.

"He put a big effort in but he was a victim of the tide going out."

- © Fairfax NZ News