KEY POINTS:
After a couple of failed attempts, former journalist and political spin doctor Brendon Burns could get his desired seat in Parliament after being selected as Labour's candidate in the party stronghold of Christchurch Central.
Mr Burns beat eight other contenders to win the Labour nomination for the safe seat at a party meeting yesterday, The Press reported.
Labour MP Tim Barnett has held the seat for four terms and it has been in Labour's hands since World War 2.
Mr Burns has never lived in Christchurch but will move there in January.
The former editor of the Marlborough Express has lived in Blenheim since 1994.
He was selected after a four-hour meeting of about 200 Labour members. The final decision was made by a five-member panel, with a won the secret ballot.
Mr Burns stood twice for Labour in the safe National seat of Kaikoura. In 2002 he helped establish the Government Communications Unit - dubbed the Burns Unit - for Prime Minister Helen Clark.
He is likely to face National Party list MP Nicky Wagner in a race for the Christchurch Central seat at the election next year.
The Labour candidate for former Cabinet minister Paul Swain's Rimutaka seat was also selected at the weekend.
Chris Hipkins, 29, won the selection, the New Zealand Herald reported today.
Mr Hipkins, who was brought up in the Hutt Valley, works as a senior adviser to Miss Clark.
His main rival was Paul Chalmers, a 54-year-old former Whangarei candidate in 2005.
Mr Swain told the Herald that Mr Hipkins represented the face of modern Labour.
"He represents the rejuvenation that Prime Minister Helen Clark has been calling for."
- NZPA