Labour candidate living abroad says he’ll only return to NZ if elected

One of Labour’s star new candidates who’s currently living in Vietnam says he’ll only move back to New Zealand if he’s elected as an MP. 

That’s despite Labour leader Chris Hipkins claiming earlier this week that Warrick Cleine was already intending to return to New Zealand – and resign his high-flying job at KPMG. 

Cleine is the chief executive of consulting firm KPMG’s Vietnam and Cambodia division and has lived in Southeast Asia for 29 years. 

He was announced as a Labour list-only candidate in June and given a placing of 30, higher than some sitting Labour list MPs. 

At 30, Cleine faces a real prospect of entering Parliament depending on how many electorate seats Labour picks up. 

On Monday, Hipkins was asked if Cleine is still living in Vietnam, less than two months out from the election. 

“He’s based in Vietnam and he’s intending to relocate to New Zealand,” Hipkins said. 

He was then asked whether Cleine intended to return regardless of whether or not he enters Parliament. 

“I actually haven’t heard from him for a few days. I’m happy to check where he’s at. He was making arrangements to leave Vietnam to come back to New Zealand.” 

Hipkins also said Cleine was planning to resign his chief executive role. 

“He’s intending to leave his role at KPMG. I’ll have to come back to you on exactly where he is at with that process.” 

On KPMG’s website, Cleine is still listed as chairman and chief executive of KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia. 

Hipkins’ office directed queries about Cleine to Labour’s head office. 

On Tuesday, Newstalk ZB asked Labour’s campaign manager Beth Houston whether Cleine intended to return to New Zealand permanently and whether he would be in the country to campaign for Labour. 

“Warrick Cleine is expected to be here for the campaign. This has not changed,” Houston said. 

“He’s coming home to campaign, and will move back permanently when he becomes an MP.” 

While possible, at 30 on the party list, it is not a certainty that Cleine will enter Parliament. 

A follow-up question to Houston asking whether Cleine only intends to return if he’s elected went unanswered. 

But late on Wednesday, Cleine confirmed that he only intends on relocating to New Zealand if he’s successful on November 7. 

“Oh yes – [I’m] still employed. Chris is right – I’ll retire from the partnership if [I’m] fortunate enough to be elected.” 

He says he’ll be in Auckland for Labour’s official campaign launch next week, and will be focused on business issues in Auckland. 

Cleine was raised on the West Coast and joined the Labour Party in 1992. 

In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to British trade, bestowed on him by King Charles III at Windsor Castle last November. 

Brothers Jamie Cleine (left) and Warrick Cleine are both running for Parliament, for New Zealand First and Labour respectively. Photo / jamie.cleine 

His brother, former Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine, is also having a tilt at Parliament this year, running for New Zealand First in West Coast Tasman. 

If both are elected, it would be the first time since 2005 that two siblings have served in Parliament simultaneously. 

Winston Peters and Jim Peters served together as NZ First MPs. Jim Peters died this week, aged in his late eighties.