Manukau deputy mayor Su’a William Sio will be sworn in as Labour’s newest member of parliament in Wellington on 1 April.
The Samoan community leader will replace the retiring Dianne Yates who has been an MP since 1993.
It is not known whether Su’a will relinquish his position on the Manukau City Council.
Su’a enters parliament as a List MP, ranked 48th on Labour’s list, one place behind current SPASIFIKmag.com columnist and former Silver Fern, Louisa Wall, who was sworn in following the retirement of Ann Hartley last month.
But Su’a is likely to run for the Mangere electorate seat going head to head with incumbent Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field, is fronting a new Pacific Party, currently gaining traction in south Auckland’s substantial Pacific community.
Su’a says he will highlight the need to support youth and the importance of developing Manukau city in his maiden speech to parliament.
Su’a entered politics as councillor for the Otara ward on the Manukau City Council. He also has a strong trade union background and is prominent in the Pacific community.
Su’a’s entry boosts Labour’s Pacific MP count to four with Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Mark Gosche and Charles Chauvel.
