Poto Williams selected as Labour’s Christchurch East Candidate
 
Labour Party President Moira Coatsworth has announced that Poto Williams will be the candidate for the Christchurch East by election following the resignation of Lianne Dalziel.  We had a robust democratic selection process with hundreds of local people in a packed rugby club hall in the heart of the electorate, where a very strong field of candidates discussed local issues.
 
Moira Coatsworth said "We said the Christchurch East electorate needs an MP who understands what people have been through, and our process has given us a very strong candidate to make things happen for local people. She comes from a community background  and will advocate strongly for the people of Christchurch dealing with insurance companies, EQC, housing shortages, new schools, and a range of other issues.  The campaign will now be in full swing as we continue talking to the Christchurch East Community to ensure we're representing their views."
 
Poto is committed to rebuilding for the long road ahead, and working alongside the people of Christchurch East.  "I encourage people to take interest in the by election to make sure our needs and priorities  are heard and understood.  Christchurch East is a fantastic area and I look forward to the coming weeks and a campaign where I can meet and talk to more people about how we can best take take the views of the electorate to Wellington to get things done. I am working in the rebuild effort in New Brighton and have worked on local housing for families and connecting the grass roots with the democratic process."
 
The Labour Party’s process for selecting its new candidate was transparent and democratic, following on from the open and engaging process used for selecting its new Leader.  All local Party members had a vote in the process.
 
Poto Williams
 
Poto Williams is a 51 year old resident of New Brighton, she is Regional Manager of St John of God Hauora Trust, managing the Community , Youth and Child Service (Southern Region), based at the Waipuna site in Pages Road in Wainoni. Living and working in the Christchurch East provides a very real understanding of local issues on a daily basis, people wanting a life with a positive future for themselves and their children.
 
Her current role is the latest in many community based roles, having held senior management positions in the Community Mental Health, Community Health, Disability services and prior to her current role, in the Family Violence sector.
 
Her community work has included being involved in issues of homeless ness through the LIFEWISE Big Sleepout, being active in the Auckland and Christchurch launches of the Living Wage Campaign, being a member of the Community Child Protection Review Panel and holding governance roles for Waitakere Community Law Service and Community Waitakere.
 
She is of Cook Island descent, part of a large extended family in New Zealand and Australia, holds an MBA from Southern Cross University and is currently writing a Doctoral Thesis on Pacific Women’s Leadership. Poto and her partner Ken, have three grown up children.  

Candidate Selection Process
 
To lead governments which make our values into laws and policies, the New Zealand Labour Party needs the very best people to represent us in Parliament.  Labour chooses its electorate candidates through a rigorous selection process, and that process includes significant chances for Party members to be involved. By understanding how the process works you will be able to make the most of your voice as a Labour Party member. This two page document gives a brief outline of the process and more details on the rules can be found in the Labour Party Constitution (available at labour.org.nz/about-us or by phoning 08004labour).

ENDS

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