Nominations open on Monday to find the National Party candidate in the Clutha-Southland electorate, but the party is unable to say exactly when the new candidate will be confirmed.
A party statement yesterday said the candidate would be confirmed in August. By the party’s own rules, candidates are supposed to be chosen within two months of the election, in this case, July 23.
Last week, disgraced MP Todd Barclay stepped down as the party’s candidate after further revelations emerged about allegations he secretly recorded a staff member. Former Dunedin South candidate Hamish Walker (32) is the only person to publicly declare he will enter the race. Former Merrill Lynch funds manager Simon Flood, of Queenstown, who challenged Mr Barclay for the seat last year, has yet to declare if he will stand.
Nominations close on July 18.
