A property lawyer and former naval officer has been chosen to fill former Prime Minister John Key's big shoes in Helensville. He is so confident of victory - Key won with a 18,000-vote majority in 2014 - he is already packing up his property law business. "Obviously John Key is a pretty significant local figure, but I'll be focused very much on the local level." Penk joined the National Party in 2008 and worked as Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett's electorate chair in Waitakere, saying he shares her "Westie" sensibilities. Key resigned as Prime Minister in December and will leave Parliament at the election.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 03, 2017 04:41 UTC