Ngāti Ruanui leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer would like to represent the Māori Party in the lower North Island's Te Tai Hauāuru Māori seat.
She's one of a few candidates for the job, and expects to know whether she's been chosen in a month or two. If chosen she will leave her role with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui.
Known for her youth work and environmental advocacy, Mrs Ngarewa-Packer was shoulder tapped by former Māori Party co-leader Tariana Turia before the last election - but the time wasn't right for her then.
As kaiarataki she is both a manager and political leader for the South Taranaki iwi. She and her team have dealt with many mining and oil exploration resource consents. The tribe has had its Treaty of Waitangi settlement and is now focused on development.
She is also a member of the national Māori Economic Development Panel, and has taken young Māori to Silicon Valley in the United States, to further skills that will get them good jobs.