UnitedFuture will not contest Mana by-election

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says his party will not be contesting the Mana by-election, although the party will be contesting the seat at next year’s General Election.

Mr Dunne says the timing of the by-election, about a year from the General Election, would place a strain on the party’s resources that it would prefer to hold for next year’s campaign.

“In the circumstances, the party’s board has decided not to contest the by-election.”

“Our focus in electorates like Mana has always been on the party vote, and there is little to be gained by MMP parties like UnitedFuture becoming involved in what has already been presented by Labour, National and the media as no more than an old-fashioned first-past-the-post slugfest between the two old parties,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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