Speculation began on Monday night when social media posts suggested Cr Laws is to be announced this Friday as New Zealand First’s candidate for the Waitaki electorate.
On his radio show on The Platform earlier this week, Cr Laws alluded to a pending announcement, without giving details.
He lives in Cromwell, which is in the Waitaki electorate.
Were he to stand there he would be running against sitting National MP Miles Anderson, in an electorate that has been a National stronghold for decades.
Cr Laws did not return calls on Monday night and yesterday declined to comment.
‘‘I never comment on rumour or speculation.
‘‘It only encourages them,’’ he said.
The party’s previous Waitaki candidate confirmed he would not be standing.
Stuff approached party leader Winston Peters at Parliament yesterday to ask if Cr Laws was to run.
‘‘What are you talking about? Why are you asking me?’’ Mr Peters said.
‘‘I’m the leader of New Zealand First, we don’t handle this kind of basic stuff. That is handled by the party.’’
Cr Laws began as an MP with National in 1990 and resigned six years later after defecting to NZ First.
He later served as Whanganui mayor between 2004 and 2010.
He has been an Otago regional councillor since 2016.
Labour list MP and former West Coast/Tasman MP Damien O’Connor is also standing in the Waitaki seat. — Allied Media
