A strong candidate for West Coast – Tasman

The Press reports:

National has announced it selected former Federated Farmers president Katie Milne and the Labour Party has selected teacher Rory Paterson as its candidate for the West Coast-Tasman electorate in this year’s general election.

Former Buller District mayor Jamie Cleine will represent New Zealand First. A farmer, Cleine led Westport through the devastating 2021 floods, which saw dozens of homes red-stickered, as well as several other emergencies.

Katie Milne is a very strong candidate, and would have to be favoured to win the seat. The Labour candidate actually lives in North Canterbury. While Milne is:

Milne is a fifth-generation West Coast farmer and was the Vice President of the World Farmers Organisation, a director for Predator Free 2050 and served as Federated Farmers first female president between 2017 and 2020.

Milne has chaired the West Coast TB Free Committee and was a member of the Farmer Mental Wellness Strategy Group, director of Westland Milk Products, and helped found the Lake Brunner Community Catchment Care Group, a community-led clean up effort which halted a downward spiral in water quality in Lake Brunner five years ahead of schedule in 2015.

It should be a non-brainer. However there is a risk that the NZ First candidate could split the vote, allowing Labour to come through the middle.

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