Greens to stand in Ohariu

All bets could be off for Labour when it comes to winning the hotly-contested Wellington seat of Ohariu, after the Green Party decided to stand a candidate at the 11th hour.

Tane Woodley made a surprise revelation at an Ohariu candidates' meeting tonight, revealing that he will now enter the race.

The decison follows the shock departure of 33-year incumbent Peter Dunne.

Green Party Co-convenor Debs Martin said Woodley would be "vigorously campaigning for Party Vote Green" in the electorate.

She did not believe standing Woodley would have an effect on Labour.

"Across the country we are making choices to maximise the likelihood of the change in government that New Zealanders are calling for. Our decision won't have any material effect on the campaign that Labour is running".

Woodley, who has ancestry from Tuhoe and the West Coast, is a former army officer with a Master in International Relations.

He said he would be "running hard in the democratic competition for the party vote in Ohariu".

"I have stood in the electorate before, am a resident of Johnsonville within the electorate and am fully across all of the local issues.

"The difference now is that I will have more opportunities to highlight the unique values that a Green Party has to offer more directly to Ohariu voters.

"For 25 years the Green Party has been focused on practical solutions to the country's most important issues. We have always led from the front and set the political agenda, giving a voice to the environment and to those who are struggling."

Woodley's bio on the Greens website says his interests include transport, energy, community safety, police, justice, emergency management and education.

Woodley stood in Ohariu in the 2014 election, winning 2764 votes.

In that election, National's Brett Hudson won 6,120 votes, Labour's Virginia Andersen took 12,859 and United Future's Peter Dunne took 13,569.

United Future also announced its new candidate for Oharui - Bale Nadakuitavuki.

"It's an absolute honour and a privilege to stand for the people of Ohariu," he said in a statement.

"The values and principles that we as United Future firmly stand for, stand strong within me as our candidate for Ohariu."

Nadakuitavuki grew up in the electorate and has lived there for 20 years.

"I am very keen on serving the people of Ohariu with distinction and honour should you vote for me," he said.

His nomination signalled a new era for the party, he said.

"Let us not forget what Peter has stood for but let us now look forward with hope to what we can continue to offer as a party for the people of Ohariu."