Far North District councillor Di Maxwell is the latest to join the race to be the next National party candidate for Northland.
That brings the number of people to put their hands up for the job to replace John Carter so far to 12.
Long-serving MP Mr Carter is retiring at the
upcoming election, and the combination of the seat's safety for National and the 24 years since the job last came up means the contest will be fierce.
Nominations do not open until March 11, but the 11 others to indicate interest so far are Maryanne Baker of Paihia (pharmacist), Victor Cauty of Kerikeri (scientist, former army captain), Sarah Davies of Taheke (YWCA manager), Mita Harris of Puketi (former DoC community relations manager, now with Historic Places Trust), Matt King of Okaihau (farmer, former detective, owner of Mid North Honda and a private investigation firm), Wayne Linton of Maungaturoto (farmer, Kaipara District councillor), Roger Ludbrook of Ohaeawai (sheep/beef farmer), Grant McCallum of Maungaturoto (dairy farmer), Jeanette Richardson of Opua (Waitangi National Trust chief executive), Mike Sabin of Coopers Beach (former policeman and drug educator) and Mark Tan of Ahipara (teacher and National Party Northland electorate secretary).
Northland electorate chair Sally Macauley said once nominations closed on April 1 a pre-selection panel would whittle the list down to a maximum of five nominees.
The short-listed nominees would then speak at a series of delegates' meetings before delegates cast their votes in Kaikohe on April 30.
