Campaigning has hit full speed in the Tauranga MP by-election after the National party announced its candidate on Sunday to run against six other already-confirmed contenders.

The weekend also saw Act leader David Seymour come to town to endorse his party's candidate Cameron Luxton. Meanwhile, Andrew Hollis – who had already confirmed himself as a candidate – was announced as the selected candidate for the New Nation Party on Sunday night.

National's local party members have selected Sam Uffindel to run in the by-election prompted by former National MP Simon Bridges' retirement.

So who is Sam Uffindel? The married 38-year-old father-of-three works as head of financial economic crime at Rabobank and is establishing a family business in the Bay of Plenty.

Returning to NZ from banking roles overseas in July 2020, the Uffindel family live in Papamoa.

Since returning, Sam has been actively involved in the National Party since becoming a member in 2008.

'During the 2020 General Election Campaign I volunteered in door knocking, putting up signs, human hoardings, and contributed wherever I could,” says Sam.

In 2021 he became the Papamoa Branch chair and Bay of Plenty deputy electorate chair of the National Party. Sam is also director of a small agribusiness.

'If elected as MP for Tauranga I will bring my strong family values, my principled open-mindedness, the courage of my convictions, my international work experience and my affinity with our region's primary industries,” says Sam.

'I will commit to improving the lives of the people of Tauranga, where I will work hard to address our city's cost of living crisis, transport inefficiencies, crime growth and the disintegration of our local democracy.”

He says it's an absolute honour to be selected as National's candidate for Tauranga. 'I'm incredibly proud to have the opportunity to be a strong local voice for Tauranga and take up the fight for the issues that matter most to our city.”

He says Tauranga families are being hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis as Labour's economic mismanagement causes the price of housing, food and fuel to explode.

'As a small business owner, senior executive, and dad to three young kids, I understand the issues Tauranga faces and will work tirelessly for you and for the investment our city deserves.”

Sam was selected by 60 of the party's voting delegates at a Sunday meeting at Mount Maunganui. He won after four meetings held across the Tauranga electorate.

Also contesting the by-election for the Tauranga MP seat in Parliament is former Tauranga principal and current Minister for Internal Affairs, and Women, Labour's Jan Tinetti for Labour; Act's self-employed Papamoa builder Cameron Luxton; New Nation Party's Andrew Hollis, a TCC councillor; the NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party's Sue Grey, a Nelson lawyer; New Conservative Party co-leader Helen Houghton; and the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party's Christopher Coker.

The by-election is on June 18.