Voting has already started for the Mt Roskill by-election, though both the Labour and National candidates are wary of the popularity of the previous MP, Phil Goff.
National picks Parmjeet Parmar as Mt Roskill by election candidate Photo: RNZ / YouTube
The by-election is on 3 December, and early voting has already started for the seat which became vacant when Mr Goff won the Auckland mayoralty contest.
Michael Wood Photo: Supplied / Twitter
Many people RNZ spoke to in the area said Mr Goff had a huge presence, regularly attending local events, community meetings, school galas and fairs.
Labour Party candidate Michael Wood said Mr Goff left some big shoes to fill.
He said he was under no illusions about how hard it would be to replace Mr Goff.
"I was one year old when Phil Goff was first elected in 1981, and many people in this community haven't really known any other MP," he said.
"So it's quite a strange for people actually to think abut 'oh, we might have a new MP in this community'.
"But equally you've got to be your own person, so, I'm not going to be the same as Phil Goff - I'll have a bit of a different outlook on some issues, I'll have my own style."
National Party candidate Parmjeet Parmar said she was unfazed by Mr Goff's popularity, though was a good member of Parliament.
Parmjeet Parmar and John Key on the campaign trail ahead of the Mt Roskill by-election. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
"On the other side, Labour has taken the seat for granted, and this is an opportunity for Mt Roskill to have a National member of Parliament as their electorate MP," she said.
"And the advantage with that is that they're in the government and they can have a stronger say in the government."