Labour party considering Greg O'Connor to challenge Peter Dunne

  • 17/01/2017

Former Police Association president Greg O'Connor could be Labour's candidate for the Ōhāriu electorate seat currently held by United Future's Peter Dunne.

Labour leader Andrew Little said on Tuesday that Mr O'Connor has expressed an interest in going into Parliament, but a selection for the seat has not yet been made.

"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't had discussions with him but...we're yet to select a candidate," Mr Little said.

Mr Little thinks Mr O'Connor, who is known to have a hard stance on law and order, is a good fit with Labour's policies.

He said Mr O'Connor "lines up perfectly with our view that we need to have a well-resourced police force that's able to respond to the needs that people who are victims of crime actually have".

Newshub has attempted to contact Mr O'Connor for comment.

The jostle for seats elsewhere in Wellington is also heating up. Unsuccessful mayoral candidate Jo Coughlan is said to be considering putting her hand up for the National Party as a candidate in the Wellington Central seat, which has been held by Labour MP Grant Roberston since 2008. Ms Coughlan is Prime Minister Bill English's sister in law.

Corporate high-flyer Nicola Willis also has her eye on National's Wellington Central position, currently held by list MP Paul Foster-Bell. 

Newshub.