Former National Party president Sue Wood urges new MPs to reconnect with voters

Résumé détaillé

An open letter to the National Party from its former president has implored the caucus, entirely made up of electorate MPs, to reconnect with its voters following a "lacklustre"…

An open letter to the National Party from its former president has implored the caucus, entirely made up of electorate MPs, to reconnect with its voters following a "lacklustre" campaign.

In the letter, Sue Wood congratulated the caucus - all of whom are electorate MPs - for campaigns focused on "positive achievements" rather than being "slightly better than the 'other lot'".

"You were not elected by the party board. You succeeded despite - not by virtue of - the National Party's lacklustre nationwide campaign."

Wood said they outperformed the party vote, making them the "masters of the party's future".

"List MPs are beholden to the leader and the board that put them there. There are none left now.

"While political discipline is important, your decisions must give a voice to your constituents' feedback. Debate those decisions in caucus and find a unified position."

Wood served as National Party president from 1982 to 1986, the youngest and first woman to hold the position, while Robert Muldoon was leader of the party.

Wood's letter follows a mixed result for National; it remains the largest party in Parliament, holding 42 seats currently, but a low party vote share means it cannot bring in any MPs off the list.

Some of the party's top brass including Nicola Willis, Paul Goldsmith, Chris Bishop and Gerry Brownlee will not make it back into Parliament.

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