Clayton Mitchell in running to be NZ First candidate

Clayton Mitchell.

Tauranga City councillor Clayton Mitchell has confirmed he is running to be Tauranga's new NZ First candidate.

The news was announced at an NZ First meeting held in Tauranga this morning.

Mr Mitchell confirmed to the Bay of Plenty Times he was in the running for the role and that it was ''pretty exciting''.

Mr Mitchell was last year elected as a councillor for Tauranga City Council after campaigning on putting Mount Maunganui and Papamoa first.

The appointment will fill a role left vacant after former NZ First MP Brendan Horan was kicked out of the party by leader Winston Peters.