New Zealand First has selected former Groundswell New Zealand spokesperson and dairy farmer Lee Smith to contest the Taranaki-King Country electorate in the upcoming general election, positioning Smith to campaign for the vast provincial seat currently held by National MP Barbara Kuriger.
Smith, who was born and raised in Taranaki, has spent decades working within the region's agricultural and business sectors. She previously served as a local coordinator for Groundswell New Zealand, representing the grassroots rural advocacy group during public campaigns against the previous Government's Three Waters reforms and agricultural emissions policies.
In a statement following the announcement, Smith expressed her gratitude for the nomination and said she plans to spend the coming months listening to voters across the electorate, focusing on practical leadership, common-sense policies and strong representation.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters highlighted Smith's deep local roots during a recent speech, noting that her lineage ties directly to early New Zealand history. Her great-great-great-great-grandmother, Pakewa, was one of the few women to sign the Treaty of Waitangi, Peters said.
Geographically, the Taranaki-King Country electorate covers a massive area, encompassing communities in North Taranaki like Inglewood and Waitara, alongside the King Country and rural zones of Stratford and South Taranaki.
