Announcing the candidacy, President Andrew Little says there were four top nominees making themselves available for selection but in the end Carmel Sepuloni emerged the winner.

Mr Little says Waitakere is a battleground seat for Labour and Carmel Sepuloni is a good fit to take the fight to National. 

Ms Sepuloni says she’s privileged to be the Labour Candidate for Waitakere in the next year’s general election. 

She says the fact that both Paula Bennett and herself are single parents is one of the few things they have in common and she’s looking forward to letting the people of Waitakere discover the difference between them.

“We have similar backgrounds but below the surface I am nothing like the Minister of Social Development who has set about disadvantaging the very people she claimed to speak for.I’m proud to be part of a Party that supports the most vulnerable members of our society and I will be fighting hard for all those who are being left behind by this National Government.

Carmel Sepuloni is Labour’s spokesperson for Civil Defence and is a first term List MP. 

Ganesh Nana - Ganesh is well known for his media commentary on NZ's economic options, based on the in-depth research provided by BERL Forecasts.  Ganesh will profile our economic reality in simple everyday language, point to poor policy decision from the past and contrast them with potentially better policy options that have been adopted elsewhere.

Bryan Gould - Bryan has challenged all New Zealanders to understand and debate economic issues in his recent work 'Rescuing the NZ Economy: What Went Wrong and How to Fix It". This presentation will focus on the 'Fix It' aspect, and will inspire us all to have the courage to publicly explore and then demand new options for building a better NZ.

John Walley - John, a seasoned director and founder of many NZ companies (and the CEO of the Manurfacturers and Exporters Association), will explain the boardroom needs and concerns of our fragile tradable economy, why this sector is so critical to NZ and what policy setting will lead to increasece investment in this sector.

Selwyn Pellett - Selwyn, from his perspective as a company builder and recent inductee into NZ's prestigious Hi-Tech Hall of Fame, will talk about NZ's past economic investments, their impact and how it could have been.  He will put this issue in the context of how they have and continue to affect, the real economy.

Register your interest at www.fabians.org.nz and join us for a ground breaking Resilient Economy Series.

From 1957-60 Phil Connolly was Minister of Defence and Minister of Police. He was described as 'an eminent statesman and Minister of the Crown who devoted his life to the advancement of the people of NZ' and a man whose 'forthright honesty and unquestioned integrity, together with his wide experience of life, both in pears and war, had combined to make him an outstanding Minister'.

In Command is available at:
Wellington; Parsons Books and Music, 126 Lambton Quay, Thorndon New World, Molesworth Street
Dunedin, The University Bookshop and possibly the Otago Settlers’ Museum.
Elsewhere through all New Zealand bookshops.

Also available on-line through the publishers, Steele Roberts

RRP $39.99

Please download 'In Command' flyer here [PDF link]

But the Labour Party fight back has begun and there are many ways you can be part of it. We are currently involved in a large membership drive around the country and we would appreciate any support or help you can provide (or just renewing your membership if you haven't got round to it yet). Just call 0800 4 LABOUR if you can help. We also have a number of fun and easy fundraising projects happening over the next few months, including the Labour Weekend Party and the "RED White Wine" Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009. Read on for details about both of these great projects.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to pass on my best wishes to you all. I am honoured to be the new General Secretary of the oldest and greatest political party in New Zealand and I look forward to meeting many of you over the next few months as we work towards victory in 2011.

Another project is around Party members offering their holiday homes for auction to the highest bidder for a week at a time.  A successful auction was held at the Conference social and "Red Hot Holidays" are looking for further offers of houses for this ongoing programme.

If you would like more information the holiday homes  or, if you are keen on hosting a Labour Party Party, please contact us at  office@labour.org.nz 

"In the short term, I will be working on strategic advice for the Ahuriri claimant group, a federation of seven hapu in the Napier area joined together by four Treaty claims.

"The time has come for me to move on so as to make sure the space is available for my colleagues in the Labour Party to move forward.

"I have been privileged to serve in many different roles and hope that in my new ones I will be able to contribute positively to our nation's future," Dr Cullen said.

Mount Albert has a unique community culture. Labour party members will participate in choosing a candidate who will be very involved in promoting local issues such as the Waterview tunnel, the future of Auckland city and ensuring a sustainable public transport system.

"One of Helen Clark's many legacies is that she leaves the Mt Albert Labour organization in fantastic shape, we've got many hundreds of members and volunteers who will do their utmost to keep Mt Albert Labour".

Nominations for the Mt Albert by-election will close on Wednesday 22 April.

Mount Albert has a unique community culture. Labour party members will participate in choosing a candidate who will be very involved in promoting local issues such as the Waterview tunnel, the future of Auckland city and ensuring a sustainable public transport system.

"One of Helen Clark's many legacies is that she leaves the Mt Albert Labour organization in fantastic shape, we've got many hundreds of members and volunteers who will do their utmost to keep Mt Albert Labour".

Nominations for the Mt Albert by-election will close on Wednesday 22 April.

Andrew Little has been National Secretary of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, New Zealand's largest private sector trade union, since August 2000.

He has previously served as President of the New Zealand University Students' Association and is on the board of Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), Student Job Search and the Centre for High Performance Work.

Andrew lives in Wellington's Island Bay with his wife Leigh and his seven year old son, Cameron.

The Party's Returning Officer, General Secretary Mike Smith says both Andrew Little and the new Vice President Moira Coatsworth, who is replacing Marian Hobbs, were the only nominees for the two vacancies on New Zealand Council.

Moira is a member of the Labour Party Council representing the Waikato and Bay of Plenty electorates. She was a child psychologist for twenty years. Since then she has held national roles in the Ministry of Education's specialist services and in the NGO mental health and disability sector. She is now self employed, living and working from the Coromandel Peninsula

Mr Smith says Andrew Little brings strong organisational and strategic skills to the Party, which complement the new energy of the Parliamentary leadership under Phil Goff.

Mr Smith also paid tribute to Mike Williams who was President for eight years and led the Party through two election victories in 2002 and 2005.

Auckland Northland - Region 1
Friday 15th May - Saturday 16th May
McGhie Theatre, Auckland College of Education
Epsom Ave, Epsom, Auckland
(Entry through gate 3 - additional parking through gate 2)

Waikato/BOP - Region 2 in
Saturday 6
VenueTBC
Hamilton

Central North Island - Region 3
Saturday 2 May - Sunday 3 May
Bulls Town Hall
Bulls

Wellington/Wairarapa - Region 4
Saturday 16 May
Venue TBC
Wellington

Upper South Island - Region 5
Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June
Greymouth Bowling Club
Greymouth

Lower South Island - Region 6
Saturday 23 May
Venue TBC
Alexandra

And of course the advice from economic experts is contradictory.

On the one hand the whole world is going on the biggest money-diet ever. That makes perfect sense. We all know that when times are hard, you save not spend.

On the other hand we're told that the way to mitigate the effects of the recession is to keep consuming so that money keeps doing the rounds - stimulating the economy.

I believe I have the solution. In most aspects of my life I will live and eat like a peasant and a pauper (that means that I eat glorious food and walk a lot so that's ok and I get fit and happy). I will forgo the buying of senseless clutter and overpriced crap. However when it comes to beautiful NZ made clothes I shall do my patriotic duty and stimulate the economy to the best of my ability. In fact I did just that the other day and bought a gorgeous summer jacket from Starfish, just down Willis St.

That should keep all the economists happy.

Stick out and keep left - the country will need us soon.

http://grassroots.labour.org.nz

It's for supporters from around the country and it belongs to you, the grassroots. You can upload photos, videos, start discussions and diary events - even the local events that we used to publicise here in Labour News. Go try it out!

Phil Goff has made it clear that the Caucus will move around the country for its meetings, and besides meeting and listening to local interests will make a point of meeting with Party members in each region or electorate. Expect to see them in your area, and we will try to give as much advance notice as possible.

On a sadder note, the Northern South Island has been particularly hit with the sudden deaths of Eamon Daly, Rafaa Antoun and Ross Lawson. We will all miss Rafaa's enthusiasm, Eamon's commitment and Ross' generosity. Our love and support goes to all their families and friends.

The same for Raewyn Good, a wonderful woman whose obituary was in Thursday's Dominion at: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4838391a24437.html

4.45pm Raymond Huo
5.00pm Clare Curran
5.15pm Chris Hipkins
5.30pm Jacinda Ardern

Wednesday 17December

5.15pm Stuart Nash
5.30pm Carmel Sepuloni
5.45pm Carol Beaumont

If you're in Wellington come on up to the House and watch them in person, everyone else can watch on Parliamentary TV.

By unanimous decision, Phil Goff was elected as Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, with Annette King as his deputy.

David Cunliffe will be Labour's spokesperson on finance, and Darren Hughes and Steve Chadwick the Senior and Junior Opposition Whips respectively.

Mr Goff said a strong and effective Opposition is vital to the effective functioning of a democracy.

"Labour will fulfil that role. Our caucus is 43 strong, seven down on our 2005 election result," Phil Goff said.

"In Government, Labour succeeded because it had a united, disciplined and motivated parliamentary and ministerial team.

"The outcome of today's caucus demonstrates that Labour will be a strong, united and determined Opposition.

"We have 13 new members, who are the most talented and able intake into our caucus since 1984. Their presence gives Labour's caucus a strong combination of experience and new and fresh talent.

"We accept the verdict of the people that after nine years in government, the mood was time for a change. Time will tell whether the changes which are proposed will be what the public was led to believe.

"We are proud of what Labour has achieved for New Zealand over its time in office - we have left the country a better place than we found it," Phil Goff said.

"We recognise however the importance of reconnecting with the electorate and regrouping, using our time in opposition to develop new policy as well as fulfilling the role of holding the Government to account.

"In Opposition, we will support the Government constructively where we believe its actions are consistent with the well-being of New Zealand and New Zealanders.

"Where we believe it is acting contrary to the best interests of New Zealand, such as slashing Kiwisaver, R&D tax credits or privatising ACC, we will oppose the Government vigorously.

"We will be watchful for secret agendas.

"Caucus today also made presentations to our departing MPs and acknowledged their contribution," Phil Goff said.

"Special acknowledgement was given to our departing leaders, Helen Clark and Michael Cullen.

"Helen and Michael were a superb leadership team and we owe a great debt to them. They shared a passion for making New Zealand a better and fairer society.

"Their skill, determination and competence are acknowledged even by their critics.

"It was a pleasure and a privilege to have worked with them over nine years in Government. I am pleased that we will continue to have the benefit of their participation and experience in our caucus," Phil Goff said.