Nanaia Mahuta has unexpectedly joined the race for leadership of the Labour Party.
The Hauraki-Waikato MP put her hat in the ring just before the close of nominations at 5pm today. She joins David Parker, Grant Robertson and Andrew Little as contenders for the top job.
Mahuta said she was in the contest to win and her entry was not part of a wider strategy, Radio New Zealand reported.
Her candidacy is a way of acknowledging the overwhelming support that Maori have given to Labour, she said.