NZ First MP's wish list for Tauranga electorate

NZ First Tauranga electorate candidate Clayton Mitchell says he has always stood for one rule for all. Photo / File

NZ First's Tauranga electorate candidate Clayton Mitchell says he "absolutely" believes in everything the party stands for.

"I am New Zealand First because we advocate for fairness and justice for all, and I have always stood up for one rule for all," he said.

In 2013 Mr Mitchell was elected as a Tauranga City Council ward councillor for Mount Maunganui and Papamoa ward.

But he stood down in 2014 to take on the role as Tauranga-based MP for NZ First Party.

Australian-born, Mr Mitchell, 45, who grew up in Hawke's Bay in a pro-National Party household, moved to Tauranga 23 years ago.

In 1998/99 he decided that National Party's policies and its values no longer matched his own, and threw his support behind NZ First after meeting leader Winston Peters in 2001.

Mr Mitchell gained 5441 votes at the 2014 general election.

He placed second out of 11 candidates for the Tauranga electorate seat behind standing MP and Transport Minister Simon Bridges, who won by a landslide of 18,967 votes.

Mr Mitchell said his focus was working hard to drive through policies that would improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of all Kiwis, particularly bridging the inequality gap.

People paying their fair share of tax and tackling the country's uncontrolled immigration were also key NZ First policies he was passionate about, he said.

Mr Mitchell said he was also committed to continuing to champion Tauranga and its major issues in Parliament.

That included providing more affordable housing and extra social housing in the city, and tackling our roading and other major infrastructure headaches, he said.

Mr Mitchell has been deputy party whip for two-and-half years and also party spokesperson on a number of issues.

Standing as a Tauranga electorate candidate was not about personal ego-boosting, but implementing NZ First's array of "common sense policies", he said.

"No one is greater than their party and what it represents. I got into central government politics because I strongly believe in putting New Zealand and New Zealanders first, and I will fight with my last breath to do so," he said.

Married to Erika for 12 years, the couple have three children of their own and also helped raise Mr Mitchell's sister's two children after she died.