Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

PM talks to Carter and others about Speaker role

Updated at 9:11 pm on 4 December 2012

Long-serving National Party MP David Carter says he didn't put his hand up to become Parliament's next speaker, but the Prime Minister shoulder-tapped him some time ago about the possibility of assuming the role.

Talk has resurfaced about Speaker Lockwood Smith leaving Parliament to take up the role of High Commissioner in London sometime during this term, although nothing has been officially confirmed.

Mr Carter was first elected to Parliament in 1994 as MP for Selwyn and is the Primary Industries and Local Government Minister.

On his way into the National Party caucus meeting on Tuesday he told reporters he was talking to Prime Minister John Key about the possibility of being the Speaker.

Mr Carter said he didn't put his hand up for the position, but the Prime Minister shoulder-tapped him some time ago about the possibility of assuming the role.

Mr Key says there is no vacancy yet, but he has had discussions with a number of people about the role.

"In the fullness of time we'll settle on a Government nomination. We haven't done that yet."

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