National MP Anne Tolley is stepping away from her East Coast electorate to be a list MP, in the hopes that if National win the 2020 election she would become Speaker.
Ms Tolley was a National MP from 1999 to 2002, before becoming the East Coast MP in 2005.
She is the current deputy to Speaker Trevor Mallard.
"The role of Speaker would require full-time attention. Given that, it wouldn’t be fair to continue to be an electorate MP," she said.
"I have no doubt National will find a strong candidate to take my place, and that person will have my full support."
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Ms Tolley said there had been "no formal decisions...about the role of Speaker should National win Government", but her experience as deputy "will stand me in good stead".
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