Northlanders will find out today who is in the running to replace Mike Sabin as the electorate's next National candidate.
The sudden resignation of Mr Sabin as Northland MP, a few months into his second term, triggered a byelection which is due to be held on March 28.
National's nominationsclosed at noon on Thursday with the party's electorate committee whittling them down to a maximum of five finalists in a pre-selection vetting process. The shortlist is expected to be released late today.
The chosen five will then have two weeks to persuade party delegates to vote for them at a selection meeting in Kaikohe on February 28. The party will not say how many nominations were received but it is understood to be between five and 15. Last year's final five were Sarah Davies, Matt King, Ken Rintoul, Mr Sabin and Mark Tan.
Ms Davies and Mr Tan have already stated they will not contest the candidacy. Mr King, an Okaihau farmer and fraud investigator, is having another tilt at the job. Mr Rintoul, who subsequently founded a new political party, Focus NZ, did not return calls. Mr King and Maungaturoto farmer Grant McCallum were the only would-be candidates to go public with their nominations.
Meanwhile, Labour has confirmed Willow-Jean Prime as its candidate in the byelection. A lawyer and Far North District councillor who had her first child just three weeks ago, she reduced Mr Sabin's majority by more than 2000 in the last general election.
Mana has named Ahipara environmental activist Rueben Taipari Porter as its candidate, while Mel Taylor of Maungaturoto is believed to be running for the Conservative Party.
The Greens will decide whether to contest the byelection early next week.
NZ First did not field a Northland candidate at the last election and has yet to decide if it will stand a candidate. It is not known whether Focus NZ will stand.
