The Labour Party has taken the first steps in its campaign to win back the Waitakere seat in west Auckland.
List MP Carmel Sepuloni has been given the job of winning back the seat from National's Paula Bennett.
Sepuloni was chosen ahead of fellow list MP Phil Twyford, university lecturer Hamish McCracken and community advocate Ann Pala.
Bennett has had a high profile since edging out Lynne Pillay at the last election, winning with a majority of less than 700 votes.
Labour president Andrew Little says the new candidate is a lawyer who understands the diverse community of Waitakere.
He says she is a very strong candidate and will give Bennett a good run for her money.
Sepuloni says she plans to take it back by getting back in touch with what people in Waitakere need. She says the main priorities in the area are bread and butter issues, and a lot of the people Labour is committed to serving are suffering right now.
Sepuloni says although she was confident she was the right person for the job, the selection process was a humbling one.
