Parliament's Speaker will this week formally declare the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat vacant, following the death of Labour MP Parekura Horomia.
Political parties will soon select candidates for an upcoming by-election in the seat, which Mr Horomia held for the Labour Party from 1999 until his death a week ago.
Some Maori voters in Ikaroa-Rawhiti have told Te Manu Korihi they want a political candidate who keeps their promise to remain community focused once they're in Parliament.
A voter in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate, Matuakore Ryland, says it will be difficult to replace Parekura Horomia, who was a "people person".
The Labour and Maori parties are preparing to battle for the seat.
A by-election in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate is expected to take place by the end of June.
Labour Party leader David Shearer says there is already informal talk among members about who might run for the seat.
He says Mr Horomia left the party a great legacy, so it wants to select a candidate as soon as possible in order to win the by-election.
The National Party will not stand a candidate, and Mana and the Greens have not yet decided whether or not they will.
