Twenty-year-old Jack Tautokai McDonald has been selected as the Green Party's candidate for Te Tai Hauauru.
And the Greens are talking of a "generational shift" in the electorate, with the retirement of encumbent Tariana Turia.
Mr McDonald, who is of Taranaki iwi, Te Whakatohea and Te Ati Awa descent, also contested the seat in 2011 for the Greens, after just turning 18.
He placed third, increasing the Greens' party vote in the electorate from 3.4 per cent to 10.9 per cent.
"It is an honour to have been re-selected as the Green Party candidate for Te Tai Hauauru and to have the opportunity to run a strong campaign to increase our party vote in Te Tai Hauauru and across Maori communities," said Mr McDonald.
"With the retirement of Tariana Turia, voters in Te Tai Hauauru have an incredible opportunity to force a generational shift in our political leadership and our representation in Parliament." Mr McDonald, who lives on the Kapiti Coast, is chairman of the Paekakariki Community Board. He has been on the Green Party's national executive and his involvement in community politics includes being a member of the campaign against the Kapiti Expressway since 2009.
He is 19th on the Greens list.
He said "a party vote for the Greens is a vote for a genuinely progressive government that will deliver for our people in key areas, including reducing income inequality, unemployment and child poverty, restoring the mauri of our awa and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi". "A party vote for the Greens will also elect a bigger and stronger Greens' Maori caucus and the potential of a second MP for Te Tai Hauauru in Parliament," Mr McDonald said.
Greens co-leader Metiria Turei called the candidate "a young man wise beyond his years".
"He is an excellent communicator and passionate about whanau and whenua.
"Jack has a real future in politics, locally and nationally. I am very proud and look forward to supporting him and his campaign," she said.