A new candidate to replace Winston Peters in Tauranga is still being sought after the first three people approached by NZ First refused the offer.
Roy Townhill, New Zealand First's electorate chairman in Tauranga, set a deadline in August to have a new candidate by Christmas, but does not see this as possible now after three negative responses.

Former NZ First Tauranga Candidate Winston Peters.

Two of these were people who lived out of Tauranga and refused to stand because they did not want to move to the city.
'We wanted them to move here. We tried to entice them but they have stayed true to where they were,” says Roy.
He identified former New Zealand First MP Barbara Stewart as one of those who was asked to stand in Tauranga.
He would not identify the other person from out of Tauranga who was approached because the party still hopes that person will change their mind.
One Tauranga party member was also approached but refused to stand because he found it difficult to find employment.
'He's been turned down from two big jobs because of his involvement in the party. He would have loved to have been our candidate but paid work has got to come first,” says Roy.
Roy says he wants a candidate chosen 'as quick as possible” so the party can capitalise on failures being made by the government.
'The National Party is in a bit of disarray. Key is trying to be a one man band. He's appeasing the Maori Party too much, he's appeasing the Green Party and everyone else,” says Roy.
He believes the morale and support of the party in Tauranga is stronger than ever.
'It won't take us long to get a candidate if we choose the right person. But it will certainly have to be within the next six months,” says Roy.