New Zealand electorates

An electorate is a geographical constituency used for electing members to the New Zealand Parliament. In informal discussion, electorates are often called seats.[lower-alpha 1] The most formal description, electoral district (Māori: rohe pōti), is used in legislation.[1] The size of electorates is determined on a population basis such that all electorates have approximately the same population.

Before 1996, all members of Parliament were directly chosen for office by the voters of an electorate. Starting from 2014 under the MMP electoral system, 71 of the usually 120 seats in Parliament were filled by electorate members, with the remainder being filled from party lists in order to achieve proportional representation (there were 69 electorates in 2005, and 70 electorates in the 2008 and 2011 elections). The 71 electorates are made up from 64 general and seven Māori electorates.

Distribution

Originally, electorates were drawn up based on political and social links, with little consideration for differences in population. Elections for the New Zealand House of Representatives in the 1850s modelled the electoral procedures used for the British House of Commons, which at that time featured both single-member electorates (electorates returning just one MP) and multi-member electorates (electorates returning more than one MP).[2] Each electorate was allocated a different number of MPs (up to three) in order to balance population differences. All electorates used a plurality voting system.[3] From 1881, a special country quota meant that rural seats could contain fewer people than urban seats, preserving improportionality by over-representing farmers.[4] For the 1905 election the multi-member electorates were abolished. The quota system persisted until 1945.[2]

As of 2018 the Representation Commission determines electorate boundaries.[5] The Commission consists of:

• Four government officials—the Government Statistician, the Surveyor-General, the Chief Electoral Officer, and the Chairperson of the Local Government Commission.
• A representative of the governing party or coalition, and a representative of the opposition bloc.
• A chairperson (often a judge) nominated by the other members (with the exception of Chairperson of the Local Government Commission).[5]

The Representation Commission reviews electorate boundaries after each New Zealand census, which normally occurs every five years.[1] The South Island is guaranteed to have 16 general seats, and dividing the number of persons in the South Island's general electoral population by 16 determines the South Island Quota which is then used to help calculate the number of Māori electorates and to determine the number of North Island electorates. The number of Māori electorates is influenced by the Māori Electoral Option where Māori voters can opt to be in either a Māori electorate or a general electorate. The percentage of Māori voters opting for the Māori roll determines the percentage of the whole Māori population (of persons claiming Māori ancestry at the previous census) which is then divided by the South Island Quota to calculate the number of Māori seats. South Island Māori opting for the general roll are included in the population on which the South Island Quota is established. The North Island population (including Māori opting for the general roll) is divided into electorates, each of approximately the same population as the South Island ones.[6] Electorates may vary by no more than 5% of the average population size.[1] This has caused the number of list seats in Parliament to decline as the population is experiencing "northern drift" (i.e. the population of the North Island, especially around Auckland, is growing faster than that of the South Island) due both to internal migration and to immigration.[7]

Because of the increasing North Island population, the Representation Commission awarded the North Island an additional electoral seat beginning in the 2008 general election.[8] Another new North Island seat was added for the 2014 general election.[9] Each time, the need for an extra seat was determined from the results of the most recent New Zealand census, with the seat coming out of the total number of list seats. The total number of list seats has thus declined from 55 to 49 since the introduction of Mixed Member Proportional voting in 1996.

Although the New Zealand Parliament is intended to have 120 members, recent iterations have exceeded this quantity. Due to some parties winning more electorate seats than their proportion of the party vote suggests, overhang seats have been awarded. In 2005 and 2011, 121 members were elected; 122 members were elected in 2008.[10]

Naming

The Representation Commission determines the names of each electorate following the most recent census.[5] An electorate may be named after a geographic region, landmark (e.g. a mountain) or main population centre. The Commission adopts compass point names when there is not a more suitable name. The compass point reference usually follows the name of the main population centre, e.g. Hamilton East.

Special electorates

Further information on the qualifications required to vote, which were gradually extended: History of voting in New Zealand

Over the years, there have been two types of "special" electorates created for particular communities. The first were special goldminers' electorates, created for participants in the Otago Goldrush—goldminers did not usually meet the residency and property requirements in the electorate they were prospecting in, but were numerous enough to warrant political representation. Two goldminers' electorates existed, the first began in 1863 and both ended in 1870.

Much more durable have been the Māori electorates, created in 1868 to give separate representation to Māori citizens. Although originally intended to be temporary, they came to function as reserved positions for Māori, ensuring that there would always be a Māori voice in Parliament. Until 1996 the number of Māori electorates was fixed at four, significantly under-representing Māori in Parliament. In 1975 the definition of who could opt to register on either the general or the māori roll was expanded to include all persons of Māori descent.[11] Previously all persons of more than 50% Māori ancestry were on the Māori roll while persons of less than 50% Māori ancestry were required to enrol on the then European roll. Only persons presumed to have equal Māori and European ancestry (so-called half-castes) had a choice of roll.[12] Since the introduction of MMP, the number of seats can change with the number of Māori voters who choose to go on the Māori roll rather than the general roll.

Electorates in the 52nd Parliament

New Zealand electorates used since 2017, showing 2017 election results

This table shows the electorates as they are represented, as of 24 September 2017, during the 52nd New Zealand Parliament.

General electorates

Electorate	Region(s)	MP		Party
Auckland Central	Auckland (Central)	Nikki Kaye		National
Bay of Plenty	Bay of Plenty	Todd Muller		National
Botany	Auckland (East)	Jami-Lee Ross		Advance NZ
Christchurch Central	Canterbury	Duncan Webb		Labour
Christchurch East	Canterbury	Poto Williams		Labour
Clutha-Southland	Southland; Otago	Hamish Walker		National
Coromandel	Waikato	Scott Simpson		National
Dunedin North	Otago	David Clark		Labour
Dunedin South	Otago	Clare Curran		Labour
East Coast	Gisborne; Bay of Plenty	Anne Tolley		National
East Coast Bays	Auckland (North)	Erica Stanford		National
Epsom	Auckland (Central)	David Seymour		ACT
Hamilton East	Waikato	David Bennett		National
Hamilton West	Waikato	Tim Macindoe		National
Helensville	Auckland (West)	Chris Penk		National
Hunua	Auckland (South)	Andrew Bayly		National
Hutt South	Wellington	Chris Bishop		National
Ilam	Canterbury	Gerry Brownlee		National
Invercargill	Southland	Sarah Dowie		National
Kaikōura	Marlborough; Canterbury	Stuart Smith		National
Kelston	Auckland (West)	Carmel Sepuloni		Labour
Mana	Wellington	Kris Faafoi		Labour
Māngere	Auckland (South)	William Sio		Labour
Manukau East	Auckland (South)	Jenny Salesa		Labour
Manurewa	Auckland (South)	Louisa Wall		Labour
Maungakiekie	Auckland (Central)	Denise Lee		National
Mt Albert	Auckland (Central)	Jacinda Ardern		Labour
Mt Roskill	Auckland (Central)	Michael Wood		Labour
Napier	Hawke's Bay	Stuart Nash		Labour
Nelson	Nelson; Tasman	Nick Smith		National
New Lynn	Auckland (West)	Deborah Russell		Labour
New Plymouth	Taranaki	Jonathan Young		National
North Shore	Auckland (North)	Maggie Barry		National
Northcote	Auckland (North)	Dan Bidois		National
Northland	Northland	Matt King		National
Ōhariu	Wellington	Greg O'Connor		Labour
Ōtaki	Wellington; Manawatu-Wanganui	Nathan Guy		National
Pakuranga	Auckland (East)	Simeon Brown		National
Palmerston North	Manawatu-Wanganui	Iain Lees-Galloway		Labour
Papakura	Auckland (South)	Judith Collins		National
Port Hills	Canterbury	Ruth Dyson		Labour
Rangitata	Canterbury	Andrew Falloon		National
Rangitīkei	Manawatu-Wanganui	Ian McKelvie		National
Rimutaka	Wellington	Chris Hipkins		Labour
Rodney	Auckland (North)	Mark Mitchell		National
Rongotai	Wellington	Paul Eagle		Labour
Rotorua	Bay of Plenty	Todd McClay		National
Selwyn	Canterbury	Amy Adams		National
Tāmaki	Auckland (Central)	Simon O'Connor		National
Taranaki-King Country	Taranaki; Waikato	Barbara Kuriger		National
Taupō	Waikato	Louise Upston		National
Tauranga	Bay of Plenty	Simon Bridges		National
Te Atatū	Auckland (West)	Phil Twyford		Labour
Tukituki	Hawke's Bay	Lawrence Yule		National
Upper Harbour	Auckland (North)	Paula Bennett		National
Waikato	Waikato	Tim van de Molen		National
Waimakariri	Canterbury	Matthew Doocey		National
Wairarapa	Wellington; Manawatu-Wanganui	Alastair Scott		National
Waitaki	Otago; Canterbury	Jacqui Dean		National
Wellington Central	Wellington	Grant Robertson		Labour
West Coast-Tasman	West Coast; Tasman	Damien O'Connor		Labour
Whanganui	Manawatu-Wanganui; Taranaki	Harete Hipango		National
Whangarei	Northland	Shane Reti		National
Wigram	Canterbury	Megan Woods		Labour

Māori electorates

Electorate	Region(s)	MP		Party
Hauraki-Waikato	Waikato; Auckland	Nanaia Mahuta		Labour
Ikaroa-Rāwhiti	Hawke's Bay; Gisborne; Manawatu-Wanganui; Wellington	Meka Whaitiri		Labour
Tāmaki Makaurau	Auckland	Peeni Henare		Labour
Te Tai Hauāuru	Taranaki; Waikato; Manawatu-Wanganui; Wellington	Adrian Rurawhe		Labour
Te Tai Tokerau	Northland; Auckland	Kelvin Davis		Labour
Te Tai Tonga	South Island; Wellington	Rino Tirikatene		Labour
Waiariki	Bay of Plenty; Waikato	Tamati Coffey		Labour

Abolished electorates

General electorates

Albany Akaroa Aoraki Arch Hill Ashburton Ashley Auckland Auckland East Auckland North Auckland Suburbs Auckland West Avon Awarua Banks Peninsula Bay of Islands Birkenhead Brooklyn Bruce Buller Caversham Chalmers Cheviot Christchurch Christchurch Country Christchurch North Christchurch South Christchurch West Clevedon Clive Clutha Coleridge Collingwood Courtenay Dunedin Dunedin Central Dunedin Country Dunedin East Dunedin and Suburbs North Dunedin and Suburbs South Dunedin Suburbs Dunedin West Dunstan East Cape Eastern Bay of Plenty Eden Egmont Ellesmere Fendalton Far North Foxton Franklin Franklin North Franklin South Geraldine Gisborne Glenfield Gladstone Grey Grey and Bell Grey Lynn Greymouth Grey Valley Halswell Hamilton Hampden Hastings Hauraki Hawera Hawke Hawkes Bay Heathcote Henderson Heretaunga Hobson Hokitika

Hokonui Horowhenua Hurunui Hutt Hutt, Eastern Hutt, Western Inangahua Island Bay Kaiapoi Kaimai Kaipara Kapiti Karapiro Karori King Country Kumara Lincoln Linwood Lyttelton Mahia Manawatu Manuherikia Manukau Maramarua Marlborough Marsden Masterton Matamata Mataura Mid-Canterbury Miramar Moeraki Mongonui Mongonui and Bay of Islands Mornington Motueka Motueka and Massacre Bay Mount Herbert Mount Ida Mount Victoria Nelson, Suburbs of Newton Newtown Northern Division Oamaru Ohariu-Belmont Ohinemuri Omata Onehunga Onslow Oroua Otago Otago Central Otahuhu Otara Owairaka Pahiatua Palmerston Panmure Papanui Papatoetoe Pareora Parnell Patea Pencarrow Peninsula Pensioner Settlements Petone Picton Ponsonby Port Chalmers Port Waikato Raglan Rakaia Rangiora

Rangiriri Remuera Riccarton Riverton Roskill Roslyn Ruahine St Albans St Kilda South Canterbury Southern Division Stanmore Stratford Sydenham Taieri Taranaki Tarawera Tasman Taumarunui Te Aro Te Aroha Temuka Thames Thorndon Timaru Titirangi Tongariro Totara Tuapeka Waiapu Waihemo Waikaia Waikaremoana Waikato Waikouaiti Waimarino Waimate Waimea Waimea-Picton Waimea Sounds Waipa Waipareira Waipawa Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay Wairarapa North Wairarapa South Wairau Waitakere Waitaki Waitemata Waitomo Waitotara Wakanui Wakatipu Wallace Wanganui and Rangitikei Wanganui Wellington Wellington Country Wellington East Wellington-Karori Wellington North Wellington South Wellington South and Suburbs Wellington Suburbs Wellington Suburbs and Country Wellington West West Auckland West Coast Westland Westland Boroughs Westland North Westland South Woodville Yaldhurst

Māori electorates

Eastern Maori Hauraki Northern Maori

Southern Maori Tainui Te Puku O Te Whenua

Te Tai Rawhiti Western Maori

Goldminers' electorates

• Goldfields
• Goldfields Towns

Notes

1. More generally "seat" refers to an elected member's place in Parliament; this includes list MPs.

References

1. "Electoral Act 1993 No 87 (as at 01 July 2016), Public Act Contents". www.legislation.govt.nz. New Zealand Legislation. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
2. Roberts, Nigel S. (20 June 2012). "Electoral systems - Turning votes into seats". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
3. Roberts, Nigel S. (17 February 2015). "Electoral systems - Turning votes into seats". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 October 2018. Both the single-member and the multi-member districts were instances of plurality voting systems, because candidates did not need a majority of the votes (more than half) to be elected. They required only a plurality – more votes than any of the other candidates – to win.
4. Atkinson, Neill (2003). Adventures in democracy: a history of the vote in New Zealand. Dunedin: University of Otago Press. p. 76.
5. "Representation Commission". elections.org.nz. Electoral Commission (New Zealand). Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
6. "Calculating future Māori and General Electorates". Electoral Commission (New Zealand). 1 October 2013. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
7. "Proportion of electorate seats to list seats" (PDF). elections.org.nz. Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
8. "Report of the Representation Commission, 2007" (PDF). elections.org.nz. Representation Commission. 2007. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
9. "2014 Electorate Boundaries - Key Changes". elections.org.nz. Electoral Commission. 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
10. "Overhang" (PDF). elections.org.nz. Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
11. "Electoral Amendment Act 1975". Retrieved 10 March 2014.
12. "Electoral Act, 1956". Retrieved 10 March 2014.

External links

• Electoral profiles, produced by the Parliamentary Library, New Zealand Parliament.
• Map of electorates with boundaries, produced by the Parliamentary Library, run by the Electoral Commission, the Electoral Enrolment Centre, the Representation Commission, and the Justice Sector.