The Maori Party has named Solomon Tipene as its candidate to stand against Hone Harawira in the Te Tai Tokerau by-election.
The 25 June by-election was triggered when Mr Harawira resigned as an independent MP to seek a mandate for his new Mana Party.
Mr Tipene is co-chair of the Maori Party's Whangarei branch. He works for the Whangarei District Council and sits on the regional Whanau Ora leadership board.
The Maori Party had to choose from Mr Tipene, actor and Ngati Hine leader, Waihoroi Shortland and lawyer Mere Mangu.
The Maori Party says it has re-established six branches in the electorate after Mr Harawira took a number of staff with him when he left to form his party earlier this year.
Initially, Mr Harawira and the Maori Party agreed not to stand against each other.
Mr Harawira says the party has picked a virtual unknown, as Mr Tipene is not know outside Whangarei or the Ngati Hine tribe.
However, Mr Tipene says he is well-known in the Maori world and intends to run a positive campaign and aims to stabilise the politicking that has been going on in Te Tai Tokerau.
Labour Party list MP Kelvin Davis is standing for Labour, while National is not contesting the seat.
In 2008, Mr Harawira captured 62% of the vote, winning the seat with 12,019 votes and a majority of 6308 over his nearest opponent Labour's Kelvin Davis.
The Electoral Commission will release a full list of candidates for the by-election on 31st May.
