As tipped, Rotomanu farmer and former Federated Farmers national president Katie Milne replaces electorate MP Maureen Pugh on the National Party’s ticket for West Coast-Tasman.
Labour’s first new candidate for the electorate in more than 30 years is Coast-born Rory Paterson, a former St Patrick’s Primary School teacher with family roots in Ikamatua.
Their nominations come hot on the heels of former two-term Buller mayor Jamie Cleine being confirmed as the New Zealand First candidate, making it a strong three-way race already.
Mr Paterson, 41, a father of four, is the director of religious education for the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch.
He acknowledged he had a big job ahead of him, while confirming he would live on the West Coast, with former electorate MP and current Labour list MP Damien O’Connor having decamped to Otago.
‘‘Definitely there’s bridges to be built — there’s work to do,’’ Mr Paterson said, commenting on Labour’s recent history of fortunes in the electorate.
In 2023, Mr O’Connor suffered a solid loss to Mrs Pugh for the seat and National also scored a significant win over Labour in the party vote.
For Mr Paterson, his West Coast links stretch back generations to the 1860s.
‘‘I was born here, my mother’s family are from Ikamatua ... I spent the first few years of my life in Reefton and I was in Greymouth from 2012-2018 teaching at St Patrick’s.’’
Mr Paterson’s father has lived in Reefton for more than 30 years.
Labour would focus on job sustainability with strong industry driving regional employment including the need to retain regional jobs, he said.
Mr Paterson said he would be campaigning full-time in the electorate from August and every spare minute prior.
Ms Milne said the chance to contribute to the ‘‘most beautiful part of New Zealand’’ as a fifth-generation West Coast farmer was immense.
Her family roots also go back to the 1860s, being part of the Condon family of Mahitahi, Bruce Bay.
Ms Milne was born and bred near Greymouth, where she attended John Paul II High School.
