National's sitting MP in Kaikoura, Colin King, is being challenged tonight at a selection meeting for the 2014 election.
Stuart Smith, a local farmer and grape-grower, is challenging Mr King.
Mr King has been the MP for three terms since 2005 but has made little impression on Parliament.
His majority in 2011 was a healthy 11,445.
Challenges of sitting electorate MPs are rare in most parties but Prime Minister John Key ousted sitting MP Brian Neeson in 2002 to get his candidacy for Helensville, and Judith Collins ousted Warren Key in Clevedon.
There has been speculation that National's John Hayes could face a challenge in Wairarapa and that Labour's Clare Curran could face a challenge in Dunedin South.
- By Audrey Young of the New Zealand Herald
