Roger Douglas standing for ACT in South Auckland electorate

Former Labour Finance Minister Sir Roger Douglas is to stand for Parliament, as an electorate candidate for ACT.

Sir Roger says he will stand in a constituent seat, most likely in South Auckland, but that has not been decided.

The announcement was made at the party's conference in Auckland on Saturday.

Sir Roger told the conference that New Zealand is now Australia's poor cousin, which has motivated his public return to politics.

ACT party leader Rodney Hide says he's delighted at his return. Mr Hide says he wants to see Sir Roger in Parliament and intends to secure a high placement for him on the party list

He says New Zealand needs MPs of Sir Roger's calibre, who have the guts to make the tough decisions.

The term 'Rogernomics' was coined for Sir Roger's policies.

Sir Roger, 70, served as Finance Minister from 1984 to December 1988 in the Labour Government under David Lange.

He retired from Parliament in 1990 and went on to co-found the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, which became the ACT party two years later.

Sir Roger entered Parliament in 1969. He first served in Cabinet in the Kirk - Rowling Goverment from 1972 - 1975.

He told the conference that New Zealand is now Australia's poor cousin, which has motivated his public return to politics.

ACT has been languishing in the polls and currently relies upon Mr Hide's Epsom seat for its place in Parliament. The party currently has two MPs, compared to seven seats in the previous term of Parliament.