Labour has selected Grant Robertson, a former adviser to Helen Clark, to stand in the safe Wellington Central seat.
Mr Robertson was "resoundingly" endorsed at a meeting of members on Saturday, said Jeremy Greenbrook-Held of the electorate committee.
"We are thrilled to have selected Grant as our candidate,and will now focus on the campaign ahead and retaining Wellington Central for Labour."
Mr Robertson, 36, has worked as a public servant and diplomat and is now a research and business manager for Otago University.
Mr Robertson said he moved to Wellington 12 years ago and loved the city.
He paid tribute to former Cabinet minister Marian Hobbs, who holds the seat with a majority of 6180 votes but will retire at the next election.
Last week, list MP Charles Chauvel pulled out of the Wellington Central race, opting to stand instead in Ohariu - a safe seat for United Future leader Peter Dunne.
