The Labour Party has formally announced Michael Wood as its candidate for Mt Roskill as current MP Phil Goff will not stand there next election.
Mr Goff is running for the Auckland mayoralty and if elected will force a by-election in the seat.
Michael Wood is a member of the Puketapapa Local Board and stood for Labour in the Epsom electorate at the last election.
Labour leader Andrew Little said the party was doing all of its candidate selections for the general election this year.
"It's more likely than not that Phil Goff will be elected as mayor of Auckland, and therefore more likely than not that there will be a by-election and we need to be prepared.
"So this is a selection we'll do around this time, if there's not a by-election in Mt Roskill that's fine, Michael Wood will continue to be the candidate for the general election next year."
The local body elections are in October this year.