Two political hopefuls for the Bay of Plenty National Party candidacy face the second of three pre-selection meetings today.

Tauranga City Councillor Steve Morris and Fonterra group director Co-operative affairs Todd Muller will face 101 voting delegates at a meeting at Maungatapu, before the final selection vote next Tuesday.

Todd Muller and Steve Morris and are both in the running for the National Bay of Plenty seat.

The incumbent, Health Minister Tony Ryall, announced in February his plan to retire from politics at the general election in November. Tony's held the seat since 1996.

Both are deemed strong contenders, having lived in the electorate for many years. Steve is out-going Health Minister Tony Ryall's former campaign manager. Todd also grew up in the Bay of Plenty and worked the family's kiwifruit orchard before being employed at Zespri, Apata Coolstores and Fonterra.

David Farrar at Kiwiblog says Todd's National Party membership includes being a friend a confidant of then Prime Minister Jim Bolger in the 1990s.

Many people who expressed interest in the standing for the safe National seat earlier on didn't follow through, says electorate chairman Mark Bayly.

'Early on Todd Muller and Steve Morris announced they were going to run.

'They're both high profile. Whether that played on the other people who were showing an interest, whether that played on their minds I'm not too sure,” says Mark.

'They (Steve and Todd) certainly did come out early - it's quite pleasing, probably quite a strong contest. I wouldn't be able to pick it at this stage, it would be inappropriate anyway.”

The final selection meeting starts at 7pm Tuesday June 3, with the final voting round not expected to begin till about 9pm.