Hands said she would step down as an ECan councillor if successful with her campaign for National.
She has a background in agriculture and resource management and a degree in environmental management and planning.
On Falloon, Hands said she was not interested in the past, just the future.
Hands lives just outside the Rangitata electorate, but said she had worked in the electorate over the past five years.
"Although my house is outside the electorate, my heart isn't."
Strong rural communities and primary industries would help the economy survive the fallout from the Covid-19 lockdown, Hands said.
"The treasury is telling us that we're facing the biggest economic crisis in 160 years, so it is extremely important for our nation's future that we have a strong government in place," she said.
"Environmental sustainability and growth can and should go hand in hand. Our farmers and growers are the best in the world at efficiently managing resources."
Hands said she was passionate about policies related to disability. Her brother uses a wheelchair and has intellectual and physical disabilities.
