Palmerston North-based National Party MP Jono Naylor will not stand for Parliament at the next general election.

Former Palmerston North mayor Jono Naylor is quitting Parliament after one term, saying he cannot see himself doing politics for another 16 years.

Naylor announced on Thursday he would not stand for the National Party in next year's election.

He served on the Palmerston North City Council for six years, before being elected mayor of the city in 2007.

He made the step into national politics in 2014, standing as National's candidate for the Palmerston North seat.

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Pundits gave Naylor a good shot at taking the seat off Labour Party incumbent Iain-Lees Galloway, but he lost by 2212 votes.

He still got into Parliament, though, on the back of National's massive win, ranked as number 51 on the party's list.

Naylor acknowledged it was unusual for an MP to stand down after one term.

Best wishes to @jono_naylor for life after Parliament. Hope we can continue working together in the best interests of Palmy North. #nzpol — Iain Lees-Galloway (@IainLG) November 3, 2016

"I have just been reflecting on about 16 years standing for election every three years, or slightly more often on average, and just realised it is not necessarily what I wanted for the next 10 to 15 years of my life," he said.

"It was a really difficult decision. Every day that I walked down the corridors here I did stop and ponder the privilege it is to be here.

"There are only 120 people in New Zealand that get to do this job at one time, and I'm one of them. That is not lost on me."

He did not regret giving up the mayoral chains, which he last won in 2013 with a clear majority, saying Parliament had given him many opportunities he could not get working in local government.

On the other hand, getting to top spots on the political ladder at a national level would have taken time.

"It is a long game you play here. I knew I would be on the back benches if I had won [Palmerston North] or not. I'm not frustrated by that.

"I'm just happy to be part of a team that is still doing great things, and am proud of what I have achieved in the past two years."

He had enjoyed working with the National caucus – "it's a really great group of of people and a great environment" – and on select committees.

While he did not work directly with fellow Palmerston North MPs Lees-Galloway and NZ First's Darroch Ball, they would keep in touch to ensure local constituents with issues got the best results possible.

He cited the Capital Connection rail link, between Palmerston North and Wellington, as an example.

"Iain [Lees-Galloway] was obviously working hard publicly.

"I was focusing my time speaking with the prime minister and minister of transport, to see what influence we could bring to bear in that aspect."

Naylor said he did not have any immediate plans, saying he was "really open" to opportunities, but committed to help both National and its new Palmerston North candidate in next year's general election.

Politics will stay in the Naylor household past then though, with Naylor's wife Karen recently being elected to the Palmerston North City Council.