Nuk Korako on National Party leadership election
Statement on National Party leadership election
Nuk Korako, National List MP based in the Port Hills and Chair of the Māori Affairs Select Committee, is supporting Hon Bill English as Leader of the National Party, and Hon Paula Bennett as Deputy Leader.
“Bill English provides the stability of leadership that we need as we head into the 2017 election”, said Mr Korako.
“Over the last eight years National has ably steered the country through a global recession and the Christchurch earthquakes, made vast improvements to public services, and got our budget back into surplus. Bill English has been an integral part of that team, and I believe he is the right person to continue the good work this Government is doing.”
“As a Māori MP and Chair of the National Party’s Māori Affairs & Treaty Negotiations Caucus Committee it also important to me that we have a leader who will continue this government’s strong record of achievements for Māori. As Finance Minister Bill English has been strongly supportive of Treaty Settlements and the work the government has done in Māori Affairs.
“I am supporting Hon Paula Bennett for the position of Deputy Leader. It is important that the Deputy is someone who complements the Leader, and I believe Bill English and Paula Bennett would be the ideal team in that regard.
“The challenges faced by Auckland will continue to be an important issue for the Government to deal with. As an Auckland-based MP, Paula Bennett brings the perspective and experience that the leadership team needs when dealing with these issues.
“I also believe that Paula Bennett provides the right balance of generational change and ministerial experience. She is someone who is passionate about making a difference to the lives of New Zealanders, and I believe she is the best candidate to join Bill English in communicating our message to New Zealanders.
“I also want to acknowledge the other candidates who have put their names forward. We are fortunate to have such strong contenders for both the leadership and deputy leadership. It is also pleasing to see that we have two Māori MPs who are such strong candidates for the deputy leadership.”