Credibility and experience top UnitedFuture list

UnitedFuture President Judy Turner today released the party's list for the 2011 general election, calling it "a mix of maturity, experience, and fresh faces for the future".

"The party has hand-picked a credible group, ready to enter Parliament and make a strong contribution," she said.

In the top five are noted outdoors advocates Doug Stevens and Alan Simmons, former Prime Ministerial Chief of Staff Rob Eaddy and the Chief Executive of the Federation of the Islamic Association of New Zealand, Sultan Eusoff.

Party leader Peter Dunne said that he was delighted with the calibre of the candidates, and that UnitedFuture offered voters a "strong, sharp and able" team to help keep a second-term National-led government "on a track that New Zealanders would want".

The list members and the electorates they represent are:

1 Peter Dunne (Ohariu)
2 Doug Stevens (Nelson)
3 Rob Eaddy (Hutt South)
4 Sultan Eusoff (Palmerston North)
5 Alan Simmons (Taupo)
6 Bryan Mockridge (Mt Roskill)
7 Vanessa Roberts (Ilam)
8 Pete George (Dunedin North)
9 Ram Prakash (Botany)
10 Martin Gibson (East Coast)
11 Clyde Graf (West Coast-Tasman)
12 Damian Light (North Shore)
13 Andrew McMillan (Rangitata)
14 Diane Brown (Otaki)
15 Brian Carter (Bay of Plenty)

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Authorised by Hon Peter Dunne MP, Parliament Buildings, Parliament, Wellington

Biographies of the first five UnitedFuture list candidates

Hon Peter Dunne - 1

Peter has been an MP since 1984, and holds the Wellington electorate of Ohariu. He is one of New Zealand's most experienced and respected MPs, having held Ministerial portfolios in both Labour and National-led governments. Currently Revenue Minister and Associate Minister of Health, Peter has previously held Environment, Justice and Internal Affairs ministerial portfolios His depth of knowledge in such diverse areas has Peter being highly regarded and respected across the political spectrum, community groups and the wider electorate. Peter says the overriding ambition for him and UnitedFuture "is to make New Zealand the best place in the world to live and raise a family".

Doug Stevens - 2

Doug has a long and distinguished background as an educator, including as Head of Department at Manukau Polytechnic (now Manukau Institute of Technology), Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology, and Dean of Arts and Humanities at Nelson Marlborough Institution of Technology. He left the tertiary sector to follow his passion for the New Zealand outdoors, and has developed www.nzfishing.com into the country's largest fishing website, and in the process given himself the lifestyle of his dreams where he gets to "research" rivers and lakes around the country and indulge a lifelong passion for fly fishing and the outdoors. Doug is standing for UnitedFuture because of its strong stance on protecting our outdoor heritage.

Rob Eaddy - 3

Serving eight years as Chief of Staff to then Prime Minister Jim Bolger, during which he was the Prime Minister's chief adviser and involved in a wide range of bilateral Prime Ministerial discussions with heads of state and governments, has equipped Rob with a wealth of experience and knowledge of Parliament and politics. He has also held a number of senior communications, strategy and consultancy roles in the health sector and been Chief of Staff to UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne since 2003.

Sultan Eusoff - 4

Singapore-born Mohamed Sultan Eusoff is Chief Executive of the Federation of the Islamic Association of New Zealand, and previously had a distinguished diplomatic career in the Singaporean Foreign Service at a number of missions around the world. Ten years ago, Sultan and his family migrated to New Zealand and since then he has played a valuable role in building better understanding between the Muslim community and the various ethnic and religious communities in New Zealand. He has a deep commitment to all people living harmoniously and cohesively in this country.

Alan Simmons - 5

Full-time fishing guide Alan Simmons rounds out UnitedFuture's list top five. Having lived in Turangi for the last 30 years, he has had a lifetime involved in the outdoors and is passionate about outdoors issues. Alan has sat on a number of national body executives, boards, NGO and management groups and is active in promoting fishing and hunting as healthy outdoor activities. He is a published author and has had a number of magazine articles published worldwide. He has also appeared in numerous international television fishing / lifestyle shows and has produced two fishing videos.

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