Prime Minister John Key is shrugging off reports of disgust in his Helensville electorate at his support for the gay marriage bill.
Conservative Party leader Colin Craig's latest newsletter, delivered to 20,000 mailboxes, says residents have asked him to stand there at the next election because Mr Key is "too gay", because of his support for Louisa Wall's bill.
Mr Key, in Rarotonga for the Pacific Islands Forum, said on Saturday that he welcomed any fair competition come election 2014.
"I wish him the best but I have got the largest majority in the country so I hope I can continue to enjoy the support of the good people of Helensville in 2014."
He said his constituents had not expressed any concerns to his office about his vote last week in favour of the bill.
"To the best of my knowledge, there's probably been about three phone calls to my electoral office."
The Herald on Sunday reported that the Conservative pamphlet was accompanied by a signed letter from Mr Craig.
It gave prominence to a comment from a disgruntled local: "Colin, you should stand here because John Key is too gay for Helensville."
Mr Craig said people had expressed disgust that their local MP was supporting the bill without asking their views.
"MPs have a duty to represent their electorate but John Key has chosen to ignore the views of the people of Helensville and carry on regardless.
"I was in the town a few weeks ago and was surprised at how many people were annoyed that he is not listening to them.
"There are people out there who simply don't like to see their prime minister doing things like dancing on stage with transvestites, as he has done in the past," he said.
NZN
