Ms Brooking (47), a first-term list MP, said while she enjoyed her time as a list MP, she was eager for the opportunity to focus on the city.
With a home in St Clair, she officially lived in the Taieri electorate, but Dunedin was "home" and representing the city was a "natural fit".
"I was not born here, but I have lived here for most of my life," she said.
"It’s just very much home.
"I live in Dunedin, my family is in Dunedin — so it’s a personal bonus for me to be able to spend more time in Dunedin.
"But also, I can’t help but always think about what different things mean for Dunedin and advocate for Dunedin with all my colleagues in Wellington as well."
When asked for her view on the recent cuts to the new Dunedin hospital, Ms Brooking pushed back.
"I would think about how we frame it," she said.
"We’ve got $1.58billion for the hospital, and there was an increase in funding in December last year of $110million."
She said the clinical comparisons between the approved business case that went over budget and what was now funded included "very tiny differences in terms of clinical".
"I appreciate that the pavilion’s been cut, but that was a non-clinical space and it’s the clinical stuff that is much more important.
"And we want to get it right, and it’s going to be amazing, and really important for Dunedin and the wider region that we’ve got that good tertiary hospital in Dunedin."
She said if not the new hospital, adaptation and long-term planning for the storms, droughts and eventual sea level rise brought about by climate change were the biggest issues facing Dunedin.
The candidacy for the Dunedin seat in this year’s election became available after the presumptive nominee, Dr David Clark, announced he would be retiring from politics at the coming election, creating the unexpected vacancy in what is traditionally a safe Labour seat.
Ms Brooking said Dr Clark left a positive legacy after holding the seat for 12 years.
"I think nobody would doubt his commitment to Dunedin, and that he’s been a strong advocate for Dunedin and a really positive voice for Dunedin as well."
