When questions about the Papakura selection were put to Stanford, Chatterton turned and left. Haslam, who was a member of the Papakura electorate committee, described Chatterton and Lu as the “most experienced” candidates. However, she explained her role as a “co-opted member” and had been approved by the National Party board to be a delegate, alongside two others who were co-opted. When contacted by the Herald, National’s Papakura electorate committee chairwoman Adrienne O’Connor said, “I’m not commenting on anything. She later referred the Herald to National Party secretary Jo de Joux.
