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Don Nicolson from Federated Farmers - Source: ONE News -
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Former Federated Farmers president Don Nicolson will be standing for the Act Party at the next election.
Nicolson's candidacy was announced in Wellington by Act leader Don Brash this afternoon.
He will stand in the Clutha/Southland seat against Finance Minister Bill English.
Nicolson said he identified strongly with Act's core principles of individual freedom, choice and personal responsibility, and that he was particularly concerned about spiralling government spending and the costs and constraints on economic growth imposed by the Resource Management Act.
"I'm very pleased to be standing for the party that will hold the government to account over its borrowing and spending. I look at it like this: I've spent my working life paying back my borrowings out of earnings, but now find the government is borrowing around $4,000 a year for every New Zealander.
He says he doesn't expect to win it but will be after the party vote which he believes is strong for farmers for Act.
Brash said Nicolson was a respected member of the community.
"Don is highly respected, not just among farmers but throughout the business and political sectors. He's been a strong and tireless advocate for property rights in particular and for much less government intervention in the lives and businesses of all hard-working New Zealanders, so I think he is an ideal candidate for Act," he said.
Nicholson stood down as president of Federated Farmers earlier this month, raising speculation he would put his name forward to stand for Act.
He recently described his political views as "where the National Party used to be".
Nicholson, a climate change sceptic, last week confirmed he had applied to join a political party, but he would not say which one.
The announcement comes at a time when Act is facing scrutiny over a controversial newspaper advertisement.
The Race Relations Commissioner has sounded a warning to the Act Party about the ad which was headlined "Fed up with pandering to Maori radicals?"
