ISSUE
Friday, February 28, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 48
The most dramatic changes include former Cabinet minister Michael Wood - who may potentially be relying on his electorate or a lift in the polls to get back in - and bringing Willow-Jean Prime to the front bench.
Wood has dropped from being ranked 30th to 45th after exiting Cabinet over failures to declare and sell shares related to his portfolios despite repeated reminders.
On current polling Labour could return 43 (1News-Verian) or 46 seats (Newshub Reid Research), putting Wood in danger of being turfed out of Parliament if he fails to regain his electorate seat of Mt Roskill.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins elevated Youth and Conservation Minister Willow-Jean Prime to Cabinet in February, and has now been lifted to the front bench, from 18th to 9th.
MP for New Plymouth Glen Bennett has been the deputy chairperson of the Economic Development Select Committee, and shoots up from 59th on the list to 29th.
All of the current Cabinet ministers and the Speaker of the House are either in safe seats or have been given winnable list placings, on current polling.
However, there are some sitting MPs who will struggle to return given their placement on the list. They include Anna Lorck, Angie Warren-Clark, Liz Craig and Sarah Pallett.
The highest place on the list for a newcomer is Georgie Dansey at number 31. Three candidates are running electorate-only races, relying on winning their seat to get into Parliament.
Electorate only: