Voting has been steady in the Tauranga by-election with more than 5000 people voting so far.

The by-election is being held to elect a new local member of Parliament (MP) for the Tauranga electorate.

Voting opened last weekend and closes at 7pm on election day, Saturday, June 18.

A total of 5024 ordinary votes were taken at voting places between Saturday, June 4, and Thursday, June 9.

Daily advance voting statistics are being released on vote.nz

A full list of voting places open between now and election day is available online at vote.nz and was included in people's EasyVote packs.

'You can vote in the by-election if you are enrolled in the Tauranga electorate,” says, Voting Services manager Graeme Astle.

The electorate includes Tauranga central and Mount Maunganui.

'If you're ready to vote now, you can. There'll be voting places open across the city this weekend making it easy to vote if you're out and about.

'Remember to take you EasyVote card with you. It makes voting faster, but you can vote without it.”

A total of 17 voting places are open on Saturday and most of them are open again on Sunday.

'The times and dates advance voting places are open vary, so check before you go,” says Graeme.

The number of voting places will increase on election day, Saturday, June 18, when 20 voting places will be open.A map showing the Tauranga area.

"If you can't get to a voting place because you're away or unwell, you can still vote. Call 0800 36 76 56 or contact the Electorate Manager (Returning Officer) at Tauranga@vote.nz for more information.'

Voting for Tauranga electors who are overseas opened on Wednesday June 1, along with telephone dictation services for voters who are blind or partially blind.

The Tauranga seat was made vacant by the resignation from Parliament of National MP Simon Bridges, in April.

There are 12 candidates contesting the seat, with transport, health reforms and housing hot topics at a recent debate.

The candidates are: ONE Party's Allan Cawood, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party's Christopher Coker, independent candidates Tony Corbett and Gordon Dickson, NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party's Sue Grey, New National Party's Andrew Hollis, New Conservative's Helen Houghton, independent Yvette Lamare, ACT New Zealand's Cameron Luxton, Labour Party's Jan Tinetti, National Party's Sam Uffindell and independent Peter Wakeman.

Voting is to close at 7pm on the official election day, June 18.