Mana candidate may stand but not Harawira

Former Mana Party MP Hone Harawira said he would likely go through a selection process once suitable potential candidates were identified. Photo / NZME.

The Mana Movement is likely to stand a candidate in next month's Northland electorate byelection - but it won't be party leader Hone Harawira.

The byelection, which will be held on March 28 and cost taxpayers up to $1 million, was forced when National's sitting MP Mike Sabin resigned unexpectedly on Friday. The resignation came four months after Mr Sabin was elected for his second term in the seat, which has been held by National since it was set up almost 20 years ago.

The poll will be open only to people on the general roll in the Northland electorate, not voters in the Whangarei or Te Tai Tokerau electorates.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he was considering running.

Speaking from Te Tii Marae at Waitangi yesterday, Mr Peters claimed he had been inundated with calls asking if he would put his name forward.

Mr Harawira, who lost the Te Tai Tokerau electorate to Labour's Kelvin Davis in September's general election, said he would definitely not stand in the electorate - he is enrolled in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate - but the party probably would.

He said he had been approached by several Mana members keen to stand in the electorate and he would canvass more at the Waitangi Day commemorations in the Bay of Islands today.

Mr Harawira said he would likely go through a selection process once suitable potential candidates were identified.

National and Labour have said they will stand candidates and both have started their selection processes. The Green Party has yet to make a decision.