Mark confirmed at No 9 on list

As far as Wairarapa's NZ First candidate is concerned, he wants to sit at the negotiating table to be able to make a difference for the people of Wairarapa.

Ron Mark doesn't want a seat in the back benches.

NZ First released its party list for 2014 yesterday, confirming Mr Mark's ranking as number nine on a list of 25.

That means if New Zealand First gains 7.5 per cent of the party vote Mr Mark will be seated in Parliament as a List MP.

But that's not what he wants, he told the Times-Age.

"That's all good but to be honest I want to be an MP for the Wairarapa.

"I want to be elected.

"The rest is just irrelevant.

"If I'm voted in that gives me the opportunity to make a difference at the table to fight for the Wairarapa," he said.

If people want change he's the man to get the job done, Mr Mark said.

In the 2011 national elections New Zealand First failed to gain elected seats in Parliament but came back from the wilderness with 6.59 per cent of the party vote, giving them eight List MP seats.

Mr Mark, who is the mayor of Carterton, was previously an NZ First List MP for 12 years.