The National Party is paying tribute to Tamaki MP Allan Peachey who passed away yesterday.

"On behalf of the whole National family I want to offer Jeanette and Allan's four children our warmest thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," says National Party President Peter Goodfellow.

"Allan was a strong local MP who wasn't afraid to speak out in support of his electorate and for what he believed in. He was also a strong advocate for education and was passionate about seeing our kids succeed. In recent years this was evidenced by his well respected work as chairman of Parliament's Education and Science Select Committee. Allan was looking forward to continuing his work in the education field in the Pacific Islands.” 

“Allan was a list only candidate in 2002 and then he won a contested selection to become National’s candidate for Tamaki in 2005. On his re-election in 2008, Allan increased the majority in the Tamaki electorate considerably to over 17,000, the third highest majority in the country”.

"His death has come as a shock. We're so saddened that he won't get to spend the extra time with his family that he was planning on. We also know he was very close to his electorate team and of course we send our sympathies to them as well."

Allan Peachey stood down as a candidate last month because he was not able to commit to serving the people of Tamaki for a full three-year term. 

National Party President Peter Goodfellow is pleased to announce University Lecturer Dr Jian Yang and community champion Alfred Ngaro will take up two 'list only' places on the National Party list.

The pair are among the list released by the National Party today, which features a balanced blend of candidates from all walks of life.

"We're very pleased Jian and Alfred have accepted places on our list. They will be exceptional candidates who are well known among their respective communities," Mr Goodfellow says.

A special meeting was held in Wellington yesterday, where the list was finalised.

"We're excited by the calibre of candidates that we're taking into the November 26 election. They represent a broad cross section of modern New Zealand and will serve the country and their communities well," says Mr Goodfellow.

Most recently Alfred Ngaro ran a strong campaign for a place on the Auckland Council, and continues to serve in a range of community related roles, which he has done for more than 20 years.

Formerly a pastor for the Tamaki Community Church, Mr Ngaro has also been a youth worker, community worker and he is a driving force behind the Tamaki Community Development Trust. He is on a number of national and regional advisory committees and governance boards. He also chairs the Pacific Health Committee of the Auckland District Health Board.

In 2009, Mr Ngaro was awarded a Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award for his contribution to the Tamaki Transformation programme.

"It's a privilege to be part of John Key's team as New Zealand charts a clear course through the economic troubles that have swept the world. I'm looking forward to offering my grass-roots and community led development perspective as we deliver economic growth and innovative social investment, improved infrastructure and better public services," Mr Ngaro says.

Dr Jian Yang is a senior lecturer in political studies, associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and director of the China Studies Centre for the New Zealand Asia Institute at Auckland University. He is also chair of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.

His interests include China's foreign relations, foreign policy, Asian security, and Chinese politics. He has authored two books on China's foreign relations.

"New Zealand is the first developed country to sign a free-trade deal with China. It's an exciting time to be part of a Government that is determined to grow this enormous potential and improve its relations in the Asia/Pacific region. I want to be another effective advocate within Government for the growing Asian community in New Zealand and I'll be working hard in that community during this election campaign,” Dr Yang says.

The National Party List for the 2011 election has been released today.

"Our 2011 list reflects the strength and stability the National-led Government has provided over the past three years. It includes a balanced blend of enthusiastic talent alongside immensely experienced and tested community leaders," says National Party President Peter Goodfellow.

"We have diverse candidates from all walks of life who will serve our communities well. This list sets the foundation for an even stronger National Party both in the immediate future and in the years ahead.

"This is a strong list and the high calibre of all our candidates did not make the National Party List Ranking Committee’s job an easy one."

Mr Goodfellow says priority was given to maintaining strong, stable, and effective leadership, with sitting Cabinet Ministers (and Ministers outside Cabinet) retaining the top 21 places.

Waitakere MP Paula Bennett's jumped from 41 to 14, while Hekia Parata has been elevated from 36 to 18 on the list.

"A number of our backbench MPs have also been elevated."

He says first-term Selwyn MP Amy Adams is one of the biggest movers on the list. She is up from 52 in 2008 to be placed at 28 this year, just in front of fellow first-termer, Maungakiekie's Peseta Sam Lotu-liga who is up from 35.

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye has been placed at 33 (formerly 57), while Tauranga’s Simon Bridges has been placed at 30 (formerly 51).

Katrina Shanks has been placed at 38, while Epsom candidate Paul Goldsmith has slotted in at 39 on the list.

MPs including Melissa Lee, Kanwaljit Bakshi, and new candidates Jian Yang and Alfred Ngaro, have all been offered winnable slots in the mid-30's.

"The Party is proud of all its MPs and candidates, and we'll be working hard to get as many of them as we can into Parliament on November 26.

"In these challenging times, New Zealand needs the strong leadership that John Key and National provide. National has a realistic, affordable and achievable plan to grow the economy, raise education standards, future-proof infrastructure, and deliver better frontline public services.

"We're presenting the public with a team that we believe will help build the brighter future that will take New Zealand forward," Mr Goodfellow says.

National Party 2011 List - () 2008

1

John Key (1)

2

Bill English (2)

3

Lockwood Smith (12)

4

Gerry Brownlee (3)

5

Tony Ryall (6)

6

Nick Smith (5)

7

Judith Collins (7)

8

Anne Tolley (10)

9

Chris Finlayson (14)

10

David Carter (9)

11

Murray McCully (11)

12

Tim Groser (15)

13

Steven Joyce (16)

14

Paula Bennett (41)

15

Phil Heatley (22)

16

Jonathan Coleman (29)

17

Kate Wilkinson (30)

18

Hekia Parata (36)

19

Maurice Williamson (8)

20

Nathan Guy (18)

21

Craig Foss (33)

22

Chris Tremain (31)

23

Jo Goodhew (39)

24

Lindsay Tisch (19)

25

Eric Roy (28)

26

Paul Hutchison (23)

27

Shane Ardern (24)

28

Amy Adams (52)

29

Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga (35)

30

Simon Bridges (51)

31

Michael Woodhouse (49)

32

Chester Borrows (32)

33

Nikki Kaye (57)

34

Melissa Lee (37)

35

Kanwaljit Bakshi (38)

36

Jian Yang (-)

37

Alfred Ngaro (-)

38

Katrina Shanks (46)

39

Paul Goldsmith (-)

40

Tau Henare (26)

41

Jacqui Dean (40)

42

Nicky Wagner (43)

43

Chris Auchinvole (42)

44

Louise Upston (53)

45

Jonathan Young (66)

46

Jackie Blue (45)

47

Todd McClay (54)

48

Alan Peachey (34)

49

David Bennett (44)

50

Tim Macindoe (55)

51

Cam Calder (58)

52

John Hayes (50)

53

Colin King (47)

54

Aaron Gilmore (56)

55

Jami-Lee Ross (-)

56

Paul Quinn (48)

57

Paul Foster-Bell (-)

58

Maggie Barry (-)

59

Ian McKelvie (-)

60

Mark Mitchell (-)

61

Mike Sabin (-)

62

Scott Simpson (-)

63

Claudette Hauiti (-)

64

Joanne Hayes (-)

65

Leonie Hapeta (-)

66

Sam Collins (-)

67

Jonathan Fletcher (-)

68

Heather Tanner (-)

69

Denise Krum (-)

70

Carolyn O'Fallon (-)

71

Viv Gurrey (71)

72

Karen Rolleston (-)

73

Brett Hudson (-)

74

Linda Cooper (-)

75

Karl Varley (-)