26 Feb 2017

National's Paul Foster-Bell to quit Parliament

4:02 pm on 26 February 2017

National list MP Paul Foster-Bell will quit Parliament at this year's election.

National MP and royalist Paul Foster-Bell poses with the Queen.

Photo: RNZ/Amelia Langford

Mr Foster-Bell said he had told party members in the Wellington Central electorate he would not be putting his name forward to contest the seat, and he would not be seeking a place on the list.

A former diplomat, Mr Foster-Bell first entered parliament in 2013.

He stood in Wellington Central for National in 2014, but lost against Labour's Grant Robertson.

Mr Foster-Bell said it had been an honour to be an MP, but it was the right time for him to pursue other opportunities.