Deborah Russell to stand for Labour in New Lynn

Deborah Russell will stand for the Labour Party in New Lynn. Photo / file

Deborah Russell has been announced as the Labour Party's candidate to contest the New Lynn electorate in the general election.

Russell, a tax expert from Massey University, will replace the outgoing David Cunliffe from the traditionally safe Labour seat.

Russell was seen as an outsider in the bid to be Labour's candidate, but had the support of the party's hierarchy.

The announcement was made by Labour's general secretary Andrew Kirton on Twitter this afternoon.

Russell previously told the Herald there were difficulties in trying to get the selection as an outsider, but she was contacting party members in New Lynn to try to secure support and had promised to move into the electorate if selected.

"I'm making sure I'm familiar with the issues here, but I'm also promoting myself as someone who can operate successfully on a national stage as well."

She said Labour did need more women candidates and that was something the locals would weigh up.

Russell stood in Rangitikei in 2014 and has impressed the leadership with her performance since then as a regular commentator in the media.

Cunliffe held New Lynn with a majority of 4557 votes in 2014. It has traditionally been a safe Labour seat but boundary changes have eroded that a bit.