Northland's Willow-Jean Prime celebrating position on the Labour Party List

Willow-Jean Prime is likely to have a spot in Parliament after the general election. Photo/Peter de Graaf

Willow-Jean Prime is closer to Parliament than ever before and already has a long list of issues she is ready to advocate for.

The Labour candidate is a Far North District councillor, a lawyer, a mother and will likely be adding MP to the list after being placed at number 16 on Labour's List, giving her an almost certain ticket to the Beehive.

Ms Prime, who is of Te Kapotai, Ngati Hine and Ngapuhi descent and lives in Pakaraka, north of Moerewa, found out her list placing on Sunday but only saw the entire list when it was released yesterday morning.

"I'm very pleased, the household is celebrating," she said.

Assuming Labour wins the same 27 electorates it currently holds, if it secures around 30 per cent of the vote, Ms Prime would be among the newcomers to Parliament.

"I think I can bring strong advocacy with a focus on Northland. But also on the issues generally. As I see them the main issues are education, health, housing and employment but, in addition to that, my other priorities are growth for our region, vibrant communities and the environment."

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis and Labour's Maori electorate MPs - who hold six of the seven Maori seats - opted not to run on the party list, as part of a strategy to defeat the Maori Party and Mana partnerships at the general election and make way for other Maori candidates - like Ms Prime.

Ms Prime, who is also Labour's Northland electorate candidate, said it was a bold and 'selfless' act and could result in the strongest contingent of Maori in Parliament if Labour's Maori electorate MPs are re-elected.

"Maori representation in Parliament is important because of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, but I also think it's important because of the work that needs to be done to make things better for Maori and for the country as a whole. My view is what is good for Maori is good for all of the community."

Mr Davis said he believed the move to stay off the list had paid off and was confident he would be re-elected as Te Tai Tokerau MP, despite the Mana-Maori deal which meant the Maori Party would not be standing in the electorate to give Hone Harawira a better chance of winning.

He said Ms Prime would be one to watch.

"She's outstanding, articulate, and she will do a wonderful job. She has potential to go all the way.

"She would make a wonderful minister and she will have a long, successful career," Mr Davis said.

Ms Prime is currently the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa councillor but she said she would resign from that position if she is successful in getting in to Parliament.

"That's so I can give 100 per cent of my focus to the one job rather than spread myself too thin. I think the reason why I put my hand up to be an MP is because I believe I can achieve more for Northland as an MP," she said.

Ms Prime is pregnant and due to have a baby in August. But it's not the first time she has been hapu during an election.

"I don't know any different. I couldn't do it without the support of my husband and my family.

"It's the reality of life and having a family is important to Dion (her husband) and I, and we knew it would be something in the mix. These babies do choose their timing."

Labour's Whangarei electorate candidate Tony Savage was number 55 on the list.

The general election will be held on Saturday, September 23.