Prominent Maori woman Lynette Stewart will contest the Northland seat for the Labour Party in the election.
Ms Stewart is the chief executive of the region's Maori health provider, the MAPO Trust, and chaired the Northland Area Health Board for nine years until 2009.
She is a sister of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and a former nurse and social worker.
Ms Stewart is a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and holds a master's degree in management.
Northland's long-serving National MP, John Carter, is retiring after 23 years and the party has yet to select its candidate.
