Candidates selected

Winston Peters.
Winston Peters.
New Zealand First has selected a group of five eclectic candidates for its ''Deep South'' electorates.

Two have previous links with either Social Credit or Democrats for Social Credit, two have former links with National, one is an existing MP and one will not be well known in the electorate where she will stand.

As an ardent opponent to the Silver Fern Farms-Shanghai Maling merger, Lawrence farmer Mark Patterson lifted his personal profile in the region. He will be hoping his selection in Clutha-Southland will now help lift the profile of NZ First in the region.

Mr Patterson was part of the Meat Industry Excellence group which failed to stop the deal. He was previously linked with the National Party.

NZ First leader Winston Peters continued his criticism of Silver Fern Farms during a speech to about 90 people yesterday, criticising both the merger and the decision to close the Fairton plant, near Ashburton, causing about 370 people to lose their jobs.

Former Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton has former links with both Democrats for Social Credit and National and is now standing for New Zealand First. Mr Familton (75) did not see re-election as mayor in the 2013 election.

Mr Peters said there would be some who thought Mr Familton was too old to be a candidate. However, the former mayor was the same age as Bernie Sanders who ran in the United States primaries last year against Hillary Clinton.

Warren Voight, who has previously stood as a Democrats for Social Credit candidate in Dunedin South, will stand this year for NZ First in Dunedin North.

No mention was made of the links the three candidates had with other parties.

The Dunedin South candidate is Kerry Rushton who, the NZ First bio says, has a long association with social service and community support organisations in Dunedin and believes in making a real difference for all New Zealanders.

Current MP Ria Bond has been selected as the Invercargill candidate. She entered Parliament on the NZ First list when Mr Peters won Northland in a by-election.

Mr Peters said the ''Deep South'' candidates were the first to be announced. Others would be announced at regional meetings throughout the country.

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