Tamati Coffey confirmed as Labour Party's Waiariki candidate

Tamati Coffey is now officially in the running for the Waiariki seat in next year's general election - after resisting the mayor's attempts to get him to run for the local council.

Mr Coffey was confirmed by members of the Labour Party and local iwi as the candidate for the Waiariki Maori seat at a hui in Rotorua tonight.

"I'm about to embark on this huge challenge, but it's all right, I'm young and I've got my whanau behind me, I've got the iwi behind me so I'll draw strength from that," he told the Rotorua Daily Post.

Mr Coffey said he had spent the day with visiting Labour MPs visiting a local kohanga, Rotorua Lakes Council, Rotorua Intermediate, Rotorua Youth Centre and Rotovegas Youth Health.

"It was really nice for our MPs to put their ear to the ground here to understand what's going on."

Mr Coffey said he was excited about his upcoming campaign.

He was the only person nominated with nominations closed on Wednesday last week.

Mr Coffey, who co-owns Eat Streat's Ponsonby Rd Lounge Bar with his partner Tim Smith, was the Labour Party candidate for the general Rotorua seat in the 2014 election.

He came second to MP Todd McClay, receiving 11,297 votes to Mr McClay's 18,715.

Next year he will take on Waiariki MP - Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell - in what mayor and former Labour MP Steve Chadwick said would be a "good battle".

"I was behind him [Coffey] when he lost last election, it's interesting that he's decided to go for it. He's got a battle ahead, but it's a good battle.

"He is a good candidate, I must admit I tried to get him to stand for council, but obviously he had something else planned.

"It's nice to be here to launch him, I do hope he goes well."

Te Tai Tokerau spokesman and Labour MP Kelvin Davis said he was excited about Mr Coffey being a candidate.

"He's got exceptional qualities. He's well known and well loved. He's a real people person, full of energy and he's got a great following. It's really exciting that he's thrown his name in the ring."

Mr Davis said it was always hard for a candidate to go up against a sitting MP.

"It takes a special person to dislodge an MP, I think Tamati is a special person," he said.

Mr Flavell previously told the Rotorua Daily Post that he wished Mr Coffey the best, but his own focus remained on working for his electorate and the country as a whole.

Ngati Whakaue kaumatua Monty Morrison said he thought it was a great opportunity for Mr Coffey.

"I was disappointed he didn't get in last time. We need somebody young and skilled and interested in politics."