Ardern confirmed for Mt Albert by-election

8:20 pm on 12 January 2017

Jacinda Ardern is set to be Labour's candidate for the Mt Albert by-election after being the sole nomination.

Jacinda Ardern

Jacinda Arden is Labour's sole nomination for the Mt Albert seat. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

The by-election, on 25 February, was sparked by David Shearer leaving Parliament to take up a United Nations job in South Sudan.

Ms Ardern will be confirmed as the candidate after a special meeting by local Labour Party members on Sunday 22 January.

Earlier last year Ms Ardern shifted and now lives in the electorate.

"I am now living in Mt Albert and look it does pose an exciting opportunity to work across the area that I do live in," she said.

The National Party said last month they would not be standing a candidate in the by-election.

Prime Minister Bill English said his party was focused on winning the general election later in the year.

He said, to achieve that goal, National would not participate in a by-election in the new year that was for a safe Labour seat.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs