Lester was in the capital's top job from 2016 to 2019 but failed to win re-election against now New Zealand First MP Andy Foster. Photo: RNZ/Laura Dooney
Justin Lester is not completely ruling out running for Wellington mayor again after confirming the Labour Party has asked him to consider it.
Lester was in the capital's top job from 2016 to 2019 but failed to win re-election against now New Zealand First MP Andy Foster.
He told RNZ that as long as a candidate runs that Wellingtonians can get behind he would support them.
"If that doesn't happen, look you never say never, but [its] certainly not my intention. I don't want to get offside with my own family because they're my priority now."
Dozens of people had approached him to consider running, including the Labour Party, Lester said
"The Labour Party has asked if I want to run and I have said exactly what I am saying today, [which] is that look that's not my intention.
"I'm not interested in running, my family is my first priority so I hope they can find a good candidate."
He told RNZ he loved the city and that it had been going through a "rough patch" due to a lot of issues.
That included public service job cuts, a difficult economic environment, people working from home and the follow on effects on infrastructure following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, he said.
Former Wellington deputy mayor and Labour Party president Jill Day said their conversations with a range of people were internal.
"When we have selected a candidate we will make an announcement then."
When asked about the performance of current mayor Tory Whanau, Lester said he had a lot of respect for her.
"She is doing the job to the best of her abilities in a difficult situation because it has been hard for Wellington."
She was doing a good job for the city, he said.
Lester had also rebranded his Facebook page in recent days to Wellington Alive, which he said would be an outlet to tell good news stories.
Through the closing of community papers such as the Cook Strait News and the Wellingtonian, there was a diminished ability to tell good news stories about local heroes, initiatives, sports, arts and the environment, he said.
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