Labour's East Coast Bays candidate has pulled the plug, because he's not happy with being placed at 72nd on the Party list.

Former Yachting New Zealand and London Olympics team manager Rohan Lord was keen to use his business and fundraising background to knuckle down and make some changes in the seat, which has been held by outgoing-National MP Murray McCully since 1987.

But Mr Lord said he was left disheartened when he was told where he'd been placed on the list.

"I've got a lot of respect for the other candidates, for different reasons, getting up and giving it a go. But I can't see anyone on the list with my business-like experience - and I think they need that."

"People, with all due respect, who're 21 [and have] limited experience, were higher on the list than me."

Mr Lord says he fundamentally believes in Labour values, a fair deal for ever New Zealander, and says he would have given it a good go. But he believes the Party's missing out on middle New Zealand.

"Some of those East Coast Bays parents, their kids are going to have to buy houses one day. And if the price of housing carries on the way it is, it's going to affect them, and they're going to want to educate their kids and that will be expensive too. This affects everyone," he said.

"I just fundamentally couldn't understand why, with my skill set, in my opinion, why I'd be so low. Because I can talk to those people who the 'institutionalised' type aren't talking to."

Mr Lord said in the end he couldn't see a future for himself as a Labour candidate, but he respects all those who are.

"I know some of the reasons why. They talk about a 50/50 woman, man split in caucus and I agree with that. And I'm saying this in a real positive way. But if you're woman, you're ethnic, or Maori, you're higher on the list than anyone who's white, male or middle class. I just couldn't see a path forward at all.

"If the current rules stay the same in the Labour caucus there's no chance for white, middle class men - unless you've been around for a very long time. But that's just reality, whether it's good or bad, it's reality."

Labour's today re-opened nominations for the East Coast Bays seat, and for the Hamilton West seat that will be left vacant by outgoing MP Sue Moroney.

Ms Moroney announced she wouldn't re-stand a day before the list was due to be released last month. She said she was told she had lost support from the Party's ruling council for an electable position on the list.

Nominations for the East Coast Bays electorate close at 5pm on Friday 9 June, while those hoping to contest Hamilton West have until the same time on Friday 16 June.