The ACT Party will run current MP Dr James McDowall as its candidate in the Hamilton West by-election and is promising to promote "real change" for the electorate.
Dr McDowall was elected to Parliament in 2020 from the ACT Party's list. He came third in the seat of Waikato with 5.2 percent of the vote, behind National's Tim van de Molden and Labour's Kerrin Leoni.
The former owner of an immigration firm in Hamilton, Dr McDowall has been ACT's immigration and defence spokesperson this term. He's contributed to the party's regular policy documents, including calling for more occupations to be placed on a fast track to residency and for defence spending to be increased to two percent of GDP.
Dr McDowall has also proposed two Member's Bills. His first would have required tertiary institutions to develop a code of practice with procedures for students and staff to uphold freedom of speech, but it was voted down in the House. His second Bill, which hasn't been pulled from the ballot, would reintroduce 90-day trial periods.
"I'm thrilled James is taking on this challenge for the ACT Party," said ACT leader David Seymour. "In his short time in Parliament so far James has excelled in taking on the Government and proposing new ideas."
Seymour said Dr McDowall would promote "what real change will look like".
"A vote for James will send a message to government that it's time for real change."
Dr McDowall said Hamilton West is currently challenged by violent crime, cost of living and co-governance issues.
"A vote for me will show the Government it's time to address these issues," he said. "I'll be campaigning on ACT's policies of introducing ankle bracelets for serious and violent youth offenders, tax relief for hardworking New Zealanders and a referendum on co-governance."
Described as a classical liberal, McDowall is a graduate of the University of Waikato and has called Hamilton home for 17 years.
He's worked for a non-government organisation in the mental health sector, in tech and small business and sits on the board of a major performing arts festival.
Dr McDowall's wife is Cantonese and they often speak the language, as well as Mandarin and English, in their home. He has relatives through his marriage in Hong Kong and in the Guangdong province.
When he entered Parliament, the ACT member swore allegiance to the Queen in both English and Cantonese. A video of the moment has been viewed nearly 200,000 times on Facebook.
"I was very surprised at the scale of the reaction - easily over a million views via the various media outlets in Hong Kong - but not surprised at the positivity given recent events and law changes," he told Newshub at the time.
"For many Hong Kong citizens, the Cantonese language represents their voice in a city that is rapidly losing its autonomy and control to Beijing."
Dr McDowall joins former Hamilton West MP Dr Gaurav Sharma, Labour's Georgie Dansey, and The Opportunities Party's Naomi Pocock in contesting the December 10 by-election. The National Party will select a candidate by the end of the week.
The by-election was caused by the resignation of Dr Sharma, the former Labour MP who was kicked out of Labour's caucus for making unfounded allegations of bullying and making accusations of the Prime Minister and party leadership.
He resigned his seat in October after claiming Labour was planning to use waka-jumping legislation to force him out of Parliament. That is something leader Jacinda Ardern has disputed.
