Tamati Coffey has ruled out standing for the Labour Party in Phil Goff's Mt Roskill electorate if Mr Goff becomes the mayor of Auckland.
Mr Coffey, who stood in the Rotorua electorate at the last general election, said he moved out of Auckland for a better lifestyle in Rotorua and he did not want to return to Auckland, even if he was asked by the party to stand.
Mr Goff has said he would run for the Auckland mayoralty in next year's local government elections and would stand down from Parliament if he won.
Mr Coffey said he was committed to Rotorua and wished Mr Goff all the best in his election campaign.
"I have a business here, we have set up shop here, laid down our roots and have established ourselves here," he said. "I chose to leave Auckland and wanted to have a better quality of life down here. Going back to Auckland would be a step backwards.