Promotion for Kelvin Davis a 'win for Northland'

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis, pictured after he and Jacinda Ardern were appointed to led the Labour Party on Tuesday, expects his elevation to give him a stronger say on Northland issues.

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis believes his elevation to the role of deputy leader of the Labour Party will give him a stronger say on Northland issues in Parliament.

Mr Davis, who lives in Kaitaia, was elected by the party caucus unopposed on Tuesday, after then deputy Jacinda Ardern was chosen to succeed Andrew Little as party leader.

Mr Davis (Ngati Manu), believed to be the party's first Maori deputy leader, said his new role should be a source of pride for the North. And he believed he would now have a stronger say on Northland issues.

"I'm going to have to support Jacinda Ardern as the Labour Party leader, and get out there and lift the profile and encourage people to party vote Labour. So there will be some more focus there, but hopefully that will be made up for by the influence I'll (have) in this position."

Meanwhile he would now find himself on the party list for next month's election, after he and his fellow Labour Maori electorate candidates opted to rely on winning those seats.

He said he would prefer to remain off the list, but constitutionally the party leader and deputy had the top two spots.

He was not worried that his new promotion might mean voters would elect Mana leader Hone Harawira as a way of ensuring both got into Parliament.

"I think people will see that here's an opportunity for Tai Tokerau to have the deputy Prime Minister," he said.

Mr Harawira was quick to congratulate Mr Davis.

"There will be challenges for him to come. No doubt a number of them will be coming from me. But today's an important day for Kelvin and I wish him all the best," he said.

Mr Davis was elected to Parliament as a list MP after losing his Te Tai Tokerau bid to Mr Harawira in 2008. He failed again in the 2011 by-election, and lost his list seat in the 2011 general election, at which point he announced his retirement from politics.

He came back though, and won the electorate vote in 2014.