[1][2] In 1978, Hunt replaced Gavin Downie as the National candidate for Pakuranga, in a controversial challenge to a sitting MP.
[1][3] Hunt narrowly held onto the electorate in 1981 when he was challenged by Neil Morrison of the Social Credit Party.
[3] During the 1984 election campaign, Hunt coined the unflattering term "Skoda brigade and Crimplene suit contingent" for Social Credit supporters.
The Skoda company were angered by the remark and it became an epitaph to Hunt who later tried to be selected as a National candidate again, though his attempts were rebuffed.
When appearing together at the inaugural ACT conference in 1994, Morrison acknowledged that many Social Creditors liked crimplene and one of his branch members drove a Skoda.