Porirua's Mayor is taking at shot at Wellington's top job, but he's leaving party politics out of it, and standing as an independent.

Nick Leggett resigned from the Labour Party on Friday and today he's announced his tilt at the Wellington mayoralty.

He said he didn't stand on a Labour ticket in Porirua, and doesn't believe there's a place for party politics in local government.

"It's not relevant to what we do and I think party politics puts unnecessary division and game playing into a local government process."

He's got some big aspirations for the capital city, saying the city's been "stalled at the lights for too long".  

"Wellingtonians that I speak to are calling out for some new energy and leadership."