National's campaign chair for the Tauranga by-election says the selection process for Tauranga's potential new MP is focused on making sure local voices are being heard.

The candidate is set to be announced on Sunday, May 1, which will then give Tauranga people a chance to get to know the new candidate before making their decision.

'We have a very different process to get our candidate to most other parties,” says Todd McClay.

'For most of them, they end up making the decision largely out of Wellington. For National, it is mostly a local decision. We have 67 party members, who are elected by their branches from Tauranga.

'They are the ones who make the final decision, and they have about a week to do so.

'We are a very democratic party, and I think that is the difference.

'We have always thought local party members should make the final decision on their candidate, as at the end of the day it is local people that make the choice.

'For other parties, they have a system where the unions or head offices is either part or all of that decision. For National, the decision rests with our local members.”

Political parties have been announcing their candidates since Tauranga MP Simon Bridges announced he was stepping down.

McClay says he's not worried about being one of the last parties to announce their candidate.

'It's not about being last. It's about Tauranga having the opportunity to choose their MP for the next decade or more.

'For National, it is always about making sure the local voice is the most important part of the decision making process. In fact, it is the only part of the decision making process.”

ACT, Labour, New Conservative, Legalise Cannabis, Outdoors and the New Nation party have all put forward a candidate.

McClay says the focus for National is to undergo a process that will select the best candidate they can.

'It's not obvious to me that they [the opposing candidates] have had a lot more exposure.

'Ultimately, the people of Tauranga have always thought deeply about who they want to represent them and who they want to be a voice for Tauranga, as well as what government they want.

'I am confident having had the opportunity to talk in detail with the people who have put their hand up for National that each of them will be a very strong advocate for Tauranga, the Tauranga community and will make a great MP.”

After a candidate is selected, McClay says the Tauranga community will have the opportunity to meet the new candidate, get to know them, listen to them, and decide whether that is the type of person the Tauranga community wants as their MP for the next decade or more.

'We are looking for someone who is hard working, contentious, and wants to remain a strong part of this community.

'We also want someone with experience before this role to be able to work hard and deliver in Wellington for the people of Tauranga.

'Out of the four candidates that have out their hand up, I think all of them would be exceptionally good.

'I've been an MP for almost 15 years now, and I think that each of them would be an exceptionally strong voice for Tauranga and would make a great MP.”

Shortly after a candidate is selected on Sunday, May 1, McClay says a campaign launch will begin.

'There are a lot of issues we will want to talk about. We will want to discuss congestion, roads, law and order, gangs and democracy in councils.

'Tauranga is very important. It has the busiest port in New Zealand, and it is the building block of the Bay of Plenty economy.

'We know at the moment, the economy is not performing as it needs to. If you look at the industries that are important for the Bay of Plenty, they don't have the staff and labour they need.

'Businesses are saying they are struggling, and the people of Tauranga as is with Te Puke and Rotorua are struggling under the weight of the cost of living, and is hurting hard working families.

'They are having to choose between paying the mortgage or rent, or feeding the kids. That is not reasonable or fair, and you will hear from our candidate when selected on Sunday what needs to be done and what we can do to make sure the people of Tauranga get a fair crack.

'Our delegates have got quite a tough job ahead of them. They have to pick between these four very good candidates. It's a very exciting time.”