Waitaki National MP Jacqui Dean is to retire from politics at the next election. "I went into Parliament to fight my corner for the South, and I absolutely made that my reason for being in Parliament. In 2008, she won the newly constituted Waitaki seat and has held that seat in every subsequent election, securing a 3281 majority in the 2020 Labour landslide, despite National losing the party vote. "National is once again united and focused on winning the next election, so I feel it is exactly the right time to step aside and make space for some new blood to come in. I am still working on what National can bring to the table in terms of conservation," Dean said.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 20, 2022 00:57 UTC