National selects Clutha-Southland candidate

Hamish Walker has tonight been selected by local party members as National’s 2017 Clutha-Southland candidate.

Mr Walker, 32, lives in the Clutha-Southland electorate with his partner Penny and has a strong family history to the Clutha-Southland area. He currently works as a business advisor, specialising in strategy and governance.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity and am ready to hit the ground running,” Mr Walker says.

“Although National has had strong support from Clutha-Southland, I’m taking nothing for granted. I’ll be working incredibly hard to remind folks right across the electorate that our party is the only one that can be relied up on to keep delivering policies that benefit their families and businesses.

“While the opposition parties are constantly rearranging themselves and can’t seem to go a day without talking about another new tax they want, National is working to grow the economy, raise family incomes, build new infrastructure and deliver outstanding public services in a way that is affordable.

“Clutha-Southland will continue to get ahead while we have a strong, Bill English-led National Government that understands local concerns and can deliver. New Zealand has made great progress over the last few years, but we can’t take it for granted.

“An alternative Labour/Green/NZ First coalition with at least four new taxes would put all our hard-won gains at risk, and take Clutha-Southland backwards. Our families, farmers and businesses simply can’t afford this.

“The electorate is more determined than ever to keep National delivering for New Zealand, and I’m very grateful to the party for this opportunity.”


Biographical notes: Hamish Walker

Hamish Walker, 32, was born in Dunedin. He currently lives in the Clutha-Southland electorate with his partner Penny. He has a strong family history to the Clutha-Southland area.

He is a successful business advisor, specialising in strategy and governance.

A graduate of Unitec Institute of Technology with a degree in Business, Hamish has subsequently worked as a senior consultant at an accountancy firm and in banking. He successfully established and sold a property management company in Auckland before returning to Dunedin in 2014 to stand for National in Dunedin South.

Additionally, Hamish has previously held roles as a commercial fisherman, police jailor, gold miner, mentor for youth living with diabetes, and former First Class Rugby Referee.

Hamish is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, and serves on the Otago Rugby Board. He is also a member of the Otago/Southland Lotteries Committee.

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