My absolute focus is on holding the seat.
"If I had not won it would have been a natural end to my political career."
Labour's Wairarapa candidate, Kieran McAnulty, said he was thrilled with his list ranking at 37, after opting out of the list last election.
"It is a vote of confidence in myself, but also highlights how seriously the Labour Party takes rural and provincial affairs."
He said by his calculations his position on the list meant he had a chance of getting into Parliament as a list MP, although Labour would have to increase its current polling of 30 per cent for such an outcome.
Regardless, Mr McAnulty said, his main priority was to win the seat and represent the people of Wairarapa and Central Hawke's Bay in Parliament.
"Wairarapa needs an electorate MP who will champion this region at every possible opportunity - one who is loud and proud Wairarapa," he said.
"It doesn't matter how many list MPs this region has, without an electorate MP who is effective we are missing out."
He said he had worked hard in his role on the party's policy council to help develop policies that addressed issues Wairarapa faced, such as promoting regional development, value-added primary production, the creation of good jobs and improved funding for health and education in rural areas.
Tukituki Labour candidate Anna Lorck also decided not to stand for the list in 2014, and did not spend any time lobbying for it this time, she said.
Ranked 45th in yesterday's announcement, she said she had only ever wanted to be elected as a local MP.
"I've never been at all interested in getting up the list.
"I've been given a clear mandate to run an outstanding local MP campaign, to earn votes and win this seat.
"Tukituki is going to be one of the most intensely fought local MP battles of the general election, and I'm giving my all for the electorate I live in and call home."
Her ranking at 45 matched her current age and she said she had never felt more able and ready to serve in public office.
Labour's six Maori MPs, including Meka Whaitari in Ikaroa Rawhiti, had not been included on the list because they are standing in their electorate only.
Labour had 27 electorate MPs and five list MPs after the 2014 election.