Bennett faces big fight in election

National's Westie battler Paula Bennett will have a fight on her hands in 2011. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Parliament's solo mums could be set for a showdown in West Auckland, with Labour's Carmel Sepuloni seeking the party's nomination to fight National's Paula Bennett for the Waitakere electorate.

Ms Sepuloni will first have to win a fight on the undercard, because her fellow Labour list MP Phil Twyford is also seeking the nomination.

Labour is choosing its contender in Waitakere early in order to get an established candidate on the ground against Ms Bennett, the Social Development Minister.

Ms Bennett won the seat by a majority of 600 votes over Labour's Lynne Pillay, who was returned to Parliament on the list but is retiring.

Ms Sepuloni confirmed her nomination yesterday but declined to comment.

The two single parents clashed earlier in the year, when Ms Sepuloni started a fiery debate in Parliament by accusing Ms Bennett of turning her back on her underprivileged past.

Ms Sepuloni is part-Tongan and part-Samoan and hails from the Taranaki town of Waitara.

She worked at the University of Auckland before entering Parliament.

Labour's selection will be at least a three-way race, with party stalwart Hamish McCracken also understood to want the nomination.

Unlike the two MPs, Mr McCracken already lives in West Auckland. He also has strong connections to the unions, which can play a major role in the selection process.

Labour has opened nominations early for five seats it views as winnable, with a number of list MPs putting themselves forward.

Carol Beaumont confirmed yesterday that she would seek the Maungakiekie nomination, which would lead to a rematch with National's Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Jacinda Ardern is the favourite for the Auckland Central nomination, which will pit her against National's Nikki Kaye in what would be a battle between Parliament's two youngest MPs.

The stakes will be high in the Waitakere selection for Mr Twyford, who is eager for an Auckland electorate seat.