March 3 deadline for candidates

Former Northland MP Mike Sabin (left) and Prime Minister John Key at an economic action group hui in Kerikeri. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Political parties and independents wishing to contest the upcoming Northland byelection have until March 3 to register their candidates with the Electoral Commission.

The commission yesterday released a detailed timeline for the byelection, forced by last week's resignation of National MP Mike Sabin.

The election, which will be held on March 28, will be open only to people on the general roll in the Northland electorate - not voters in the Whangarei or Te Tai Tokerau electorates.

Unlike a general election, voters will vote only for a new electorate MP. There will be no party vote.

The Electoral Commission is now urging everyone eligible to vote to enrol, or make sure their enrolment details are up-to-date, by March 27.

Chief electoral officer Robert Peden said staff would be working to make sure voters know the by-election is on, how to make sure they are enrolled, and where and when to vote.

The Commission expected to provide around 90 voting places across the electorate, which extends from Cape Reinga to just south of Wellsford, excluding Whangarei and its surrounding area.

Meanwhile, Labour opened nominations yesterday in a first step to choosing the party's byelection candidate. A selection meeting will be held if more than one nominee is received by the February 9 closing date.

District councillor Willow-Jean Prime, who stood for Labour in last year's election and trimmed Mr Sabin's majority by more than 2000, has already put her hand up. Mrs Prime started her campaign with a stand at Kawakawa's St John market on Saturday despite having her first child just a week earlier.

National's Northland branch opened nominations for a replacement for Mr Sabin a day earlier. Local officials will whittle the nominees down to a shortlist of five, with the winner to be chosen by party delegates in Kaikohe on February 28.

To enrol, freetext your name and address to 3676, go to www.elections.org.nz, visit any PostShop or call 0800 36 76 56. The Commission is looking for about 300 people around Northland to work on the by-election. Visit www.elections.org.nz or call 0800 36 76 56 for more information.