Masterton true blue this weekend

Wairarapa is to be the focal point of the country for the National Party this weekend.

Not only is the party to select its Wairarapa candidate on Friday but National's Lower North Island conference kicks off in Masterton on Saturday with the keynote speaker at a conference dinner being Prime Minister John Key.

The true blue weekend is being touted as one of the biggest ever in Wairarapa's National Party history and in addition to the presence of the Prime Minister the conference, to be held at Copthorne Solway Park, will host seven members of his Cabinet and 150 party delegates.

The ministers will include election campaign head Stephen Joyce.

Wairarapa electorate chairman Bernard Cleary said the weekend conference is shaping up to be a great event for the district.

"While there is a lot of serious business to be discussed, we are also hoping to promote Wairarapa to delegates.

"There's a lot going on around the region, and we hope they will decide to stay a few extra days and enjoy what Wairarapa can offer," he said.

The candidate selection will see four hopefuls vying to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of incumbent Wairarapa MP John Hayes.

First to declare his hand at seeking the National nomination was winery owner Alastair Scott, 48, who unofficially entered the race last year. He had put his name forward for Wairarapa in 2011 but later withdrew and unsuccessfully sought to become National's candidate for the Rimutaka seat.

Mr Scott owns Matahiwi Winery on the outskirts of Masterton. In February Apiti farmer Jo Hayes, 55, confirmed she would be seeking the nomination.

Mrs Hayes - no relation to John Hayes - farms in partnership with her husband Pat but was born in Eketahuna and has family living in Masterton.

Two other men bidding to become the party's nominee are Richard Townley, 34, of Wellington and Masterton-born James Perry.

Both have been nominated but under the party's rules have been muzzled from discussing their nominations, a rule that applies from the close of nominations until after the selection meeting. The name of the successful National candidate is expected to be made available late Friday prior to the other conference business getting underway. Whoever gets the nod will be charged with staving off the challenge of Labour candidate Kieran McAnulty and Green Party's John Hart.