Act's candidate for Northland by-election named

Act Party candidate Robin Grieve.

The Act Party will stand Whangarei man Robin Grieve in the Northland by-election but there is still no news on whether New Zealand First leader Winston Peters will put his hat in for the seat on March 28.

Act began its campaign almost immediately after announcing Mr Grieve as the candidate, saying in its weekly newsletter that Northland was suffering for the benefit of Auckland: "Northland roads are notorious while the National Government taxes Northlanders to fund rail loops and convention centres."

It likened the area south of Whangarei to the Los Angeles basin in terms of its potential.

"It has expansive flat space, a sunny climate and beaches, yet it is only connected to New Zealand by a goat track."

Mr Grieve - an orchardist and health and safety consultant - has been a candidate for Act in the past.

Mr Peters has also toyed with the idea of standing and was expected to announce his decision by the end of last week. However, he said today he did not know when a decision would be forthcoming.

The electorate has been a safe National seat for decades, but Mr Peters is understood to have been weighing up whether the lower turnout of a by-election and resignation of former Northland MP Mike Sabin would give him a chance.

The Green Party is expected to decide whether to contest the Northland seat this week. It was triggered by the resignation last month of former MP Mike Sabin.

Labour has selected its 2014 candidate as Willow Jean Prime, who will hold her campaign launch on Sunday.

National has whittled its candidate shortlist down to five: Mita Harris, Matt King, Grant McCallum, Mark Osborne and Karen Rolleston. It will select a candidate at the end of the month.