Carmel Sepuloni

Wellington, March 23 NZPA - Young Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni says she has already started her drive to win west Auckland's Waitakere electorate from National counterpart Paula Bennett.

Ms Sepuloni was Labour's recent pick to challenge for Waitakere, ahead of party nominees Ann Pala, Hamish McCracken and Phil Twyford.

Being of Pacific island descent, she may be seen to hold an advantage in being able to connect with the 10,000 or electorate residents listed as being of Pacific descent.

"It has a strong working class base, a lot of people who are traditional Labour voters," she said today. "So it is making sure that we connect with them...I am feeling pretty optimistic."

Ms Sepuloni said she had already started getting out and about in the electorate and looked forward to building relationships.

She said any perceived similarities between her and Ms Bennett were only on the surface, and has in the past been critical of her counterpart.

"It is a bit disappointing when you have got someone who says that they are a battler and solo parent, then turns around and reduces the support to them," she said, referring to the training incentive allowance which Ms Bennett and Ms Sepuloni have both received in the past.

Ms Bennett said it was nice to know who was fronting up in west Auckland.

"So let the games begin. I love my job out there, I love what I'm doing and I think I'm well connected to the people of Waitakere and represent them well, but let's see on the day," she said of the contest.

Having a range of people wanting to represent an electorate put focus on that region, which was positive, Ms Bennett said.

Labour has confirmed list MP Jacinda Ardern will contest Auckland Central and Carol Beaumont, also a list MP, will contest Maungakiekie. Those electorates are held by National's Nikki Kaye and Peseta Sam Lotu-Liga respectively.