Christopher Luxon has been selected as the National Party candidate for the Botany seat.
Following Jami Lee-Ross' resignation from National last year, the east Auckland electorate had no National candidate to compete against the now independent MP, who currently holds the Botany seat.
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Luxon, the former Air New Zealand chief executive announced his plans to contest National's Botany seat last month.
"I'm incredibly humbled to be chosen as National's candidate in Botany and am grateful to the party delegates for their support," Luxon said after winning the candidacy.
"Botany is a part of who I am. I lived here growing up, attended local schools, and the hard-working, middle-class values that were instilled in me then are my values today."
Luxon said the electorate was feeling "the pinch from a Coalition Government that is breaking its promises to Kiwis".
"Botany, and New Zealand, needs an effective National Government. Simon Bridges leads a team that knows how to get things done and is ready to hit the ground running."
Bridges said on Monday that Luxon's selection confirmed National as a party of talent.
"It is no accident that we attract strong candidates like Christopher, given we're the most popularly supported party in Parliament and the largest and most effective Opposition this country has ever seen," the party leader said.
Sixty local National Party delegates decided on Monday night out of five candidates during Monday's formal selection process at the Pakuranga Golf Club.
One of those Luxon beat was current National MP Agnes Loheni. The party's spokesperson for small business and Pacific peoples informed caucus earlier in October.
Luxon grew up with a "great affinity" and "connection" to the Botany electorate, having attended local primary, intermediate and high schools in the area.
Former Prime Minister John Key endorsed Luxon as a "world class candidate" for the National nomination.
National leader Simon Bridges said the party has been "blessed with great talent" during an interview with MagicTalk.
"If you look at Labour doing their selections, they are not going to have any of that," he said.
Luxon has been considered a nomination favourite following his announcement.
He will compete against his predecessor Ross in the 2020 elections.
Ross resigned from the National Party following a controversial allegation that leader Simon Bridges had illegally obscured campaign donations. Bridges denied the claims.
Newshub.
