Foreign Affairs Minister and National Party Member for East Coast Bays Murray McCully has announced that he will not contest the electorate seat in next year’s general election.
Mr McCully said his decision was not related to his medical leave late last year.
“It is a real privilege to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs. But it is an office that does not always sit easily with the role of a constituency MP.
“When my role as Foreign Minister comes to an end it is my intention to retire from Parliament. Quite when that will be, and whether I seek election as a List Member of Parliament in 2017, are decisions for the Prime Minister in the first instance.
“At the end of this term I will have served as the local Member of Parliament for 30 years. This is the right time for me to announce my intentions and clear the way for an orderly succession process,” said Mr McCully.
His Ministerial duties take him overseas and the party joke is that his majority increases the more he’s out of the electorate.
That is only a joke. He has a punishing ministerial work load but still manages to service and retain the support of his constituents.
However, he has been an MP for 30 years and it is good for party refreshment that he stands aside for a successor.
It is up to the National board to decide if he could have one of the up to five list-only seats and the Prime Minister to decide if he should retain his ministerial post.
The latter would also require National to still be leading the government after the next election.
