# Taupō (New Zealand electorate)

Taupō (spelt as Taupo until 2008) is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate returning one Member of Parliament to the House of Representatives. Taupo first existed between 1963 and 1981, and was recreated for the introduction of MMP in 1996. The current MP for Taupō is Louise Upston of the National Party. She has held this position since 2008.

## Electorate profile

The Taupō electorate is based on the central North Island communities around Lake Taupō and the South Waikato District, including Tūrangi, Taupō, Tokoroa, and Cambridge.
In 2013, one quarter (24.9%) of people in the Taupō electorate belonged to the Māori ethnic group – the sixth-highest share in New Zealand. The proportions of those working in the electricity, gas, water and waste services industry (1.3%), the accommodation, cafe, and restaurant industry (7.5%), and in arts and recreation services (2.4%), were well above the national average.

## History

The Taupo electorate was first created for the 1963 election and it existed until 1981. The former electorate was much smaller than the current one, since it did not contain the western side of Lake Taupo, nor Cambridge, nor the Ruapehu towns. It was a marginal seat and frequently changed between National and Labour.
The current Taupō electorate was created ahead of the introduction to mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting in 1996. It is a merger of the old marginal seat of Tongariro with the western half of the safe National seat of Waikaremoana. Prior to the 2008 election, the electorate pulled south to take in the northern and western parts of Ruapehu District.
In the 2007 redistribution conducted after the 2006 census, the northern and western parts of Ruapehu District containing Taumarunui, Raetihi and Ohakune were assigned to Rangitīkei. At the same time, low population growth in the south-central North Island coupled with high population growth in and around Auckland has meant the conservative area of Cambridge moved out of the now defunct Piako electorate and into Taupō. No boundary adjustments were undertaken in the subsequent 2013/14 redistribution. In the 2020 redistribution, an area around Putāruru and Tīrau, and a smaller area just north of Cambridge were ceded to Waikato.
Taupō has twice returned Mark Burton with a majority of around a thousand – in 1996, when Labour's post-1990 fortunes were at their lowest and New Zealand First went on to take a large bite out of their vote; and again in 2005, when National consolidated the centre-right vote, and at the same time won 2,000 more party votes than Burton's Labour party. At the intermediate two MMP elections, Burton was safely returned, thanks in part to a heavy disenchantment with the National Party among its formerly loyal voters. In the political climate in 2008, with the dominance of the National Party in Cambridge, which contributed over ten thousand new voters to the seat, Louise Upston won the seat with a majority of over 6,000. In the 2011 election, Upston more than doubled her majority to 14,115 votes. Her majority increased to 15,046 votes in the 2014 election.

## Members of Parliament

Unless otherwise stated, all MPs' terms began and ended at general elections.
Key  National Labour
| Election | Winner |
| 1963 election | Rona Stevenson |
| 1966 election | Rona Stevenson |
| 1969 election | Rona Stevenson |
| 1972 election | Jack Ridley |
| 1975 election | Ray La Varis |
| 1978 election | Jack Ridley |
| 1981 election | Roger McClay |
| (Electorate abolished 1984–1996; see Tongariro and Waikaremoana) |||
| 1996 election | Mark Burton |
| 1999 election | Mark Burton |
| 2002 election | Mark Burton |
| 2005 election | Mark Burton |
| 2008 election | Louise Upston |
| 2011 election | Louise Upston |
| 2014 election | Louise Upston |
| 2017 election | Louise Upston |
| 2020 election | Louise Upston |
| 2023 election | Louise Upston |
As of 2023 no candidates that have contested the Taupō electorate have been returned as list MPs.

## Election results
### 2023 election

2023 general election: Taupō :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Y Louise Upston | Y Louise Upston | 24,858 | 57.13 | +8.23 | 19,966 | 45.34 | +12.59 |
| | Labour | Ala' Al-Bustanji | Ala' Al-Bustanji | 8,353 | 19.20 | –17.84 | 9,686 | 21.99 | –23.28 |
| | Green | George Patena | George Patena | 3,441 | 7.90 | +3.22 | 2,773 | 6.29 | +2.49 |
| | ACT | Zane Cozens | Zane Cozens | 2,808 | 6.45 | +2.17 | 4,960 | 11.26 | +1.43 |
| | NZ First | Tira Pehi | Tira Pehi | 2,114 | 4.85 | – | 3,508 | 7.96 | +5.18 |
| | NZ Loyal | Gordon Wilson | Gordon Wilson | 1,410 | 3.24 | – | 961 | 2.18 | – |
| | Opportunities | | | | | | 644 | 1.46 | +0.12 |
| | Te Pāti Māori | | | | | | 567 | 1.28 | +0.85 |
| | NewZeal | | | | | | 208 | 0.47 | +0.05 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 178 | 0.40 | +0.03 |
| | Freedoms NZ | | | | | | 134 | 0.30 | – |
| | DemocracyNZ | | | | | | 75 | 0.17 | – |
| | New Conservatives | | | | | | 66 | 0.14 | +1.40 |
| | Animal Justice | | | | | | 50 | 0.11 | – |
| | Leighton Baker Party | | | | | | 36 | 0.08 | – |
| | Women's Rights | | | | | | 26 | 0.05 | – |
| | New Nation | | | | | | 20 | 0.04 | – |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 520 | | | 170 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 43,504 | | | 44,028 | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 16,505 | 37.93 | +26.32 | | | |

### 2020 election

2020 general election: Taupō :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Y Louise Upston | Y Louise Upston | 21,102 | 48.90 | −13.98 | 14,452 | 32.75 | −21.19 |
| | Labour | Ala' Al-Bustanji | Ala' Al-Bustanji | 15,983 | 37.04 | +10.79 | 19,978 | 45.27 | +16.29 |
| | Green | Danna Glendining | Danna Glendining | 2,018 | 4.68 | −3.29 | 1,677 | 3.80 | +0.36 |
| | ACT | David Freeman | David Freeman | 1,848 | 4.28 | – | 4,340 | 9.83 | +9.35 |
| | Outdoors | Michael Downard | Michael Downard | 645 | 1.49 | −0.59 | 123 | 0.28 | +0.11 |
| | New Conservative | Jan-Marie Quinn | Jan-Marie Quinn | 608 | 1.41 | — | 681 | 1.54 | +1.27 |
| | Advance NZ | Antoinette James | Antoinette James | 531 | 1.23 | — | 476 | 1.08 | — |
| | ONE | Gary Coffin | Gary Coffin | 415 | 0.96 | — | 184 | 0.42 | — |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 1,227 | 2.78 | −6.24 |
| | Opportunities | | | | | | 592 | 1.34 | −0.94 |
| | ONE | | | | | | 184 | 0.42 | – |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 165 | 0.37 | +0.07 |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 195 | 0.43 | −0.28 |
| | Outdoors | | | | | | 123 | 0.28 | +0.11 |
| | Sustainable NZ | | | | | | 23 | 0.05 | — |
| | Vision NZ | | | | | | 23 | 0.05 | — |
| | Social Credit | | | | | | 14 | 0.03 | ±0.00 |
| | TEA | | | | | | 9 | 0.02 | — |
| | Heartland | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | — |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 928 | | | 275 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 44,078 | | | 44,406 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,510 | 84.07 | | | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 5,119 | 11.61 | | | | |

### 2017 election

2017 general election: Taupo :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Y Louise Upston | Y Louise Upston | 24,611 | 61.84 | -0.75 | 21,744 | 53.7 | -3.24 |
| | Labour | Ala Al-Bustanji | Ala Al-Bustanji | 10,276 | 25.82 | +5.18 | 11,683 | 28.9 | +10.33 |
| | Green | Julie Sandilands | Julie Sandilands | 3,118 | 7.83 | +2.44 | 1,388 | 3.43 | -2.69 |
| | Outdoors | Alan Frank Simmons | Alan Frank Simmons | 814 | 2.05 | — | 68 | 0.17 | — |
| | Conservative | Denis Shuker | Denis Shuker | 321 | 0.81 | -1.67 | 111 | 0.27 | -4.48 |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 3,634 | 8.98 | -1.28 |
| | Opportunities | | | | | | 918 | 2.27 | — |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 262 | 0.65 | -0.17 |
| | ACT | | | | | | 194 | 0.48 | 0.23 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 120 | 0.3 | -0.11 |
| | Ban 1080 | | | | | | 108 | 0.27 | -0.34 |
| | People's Party | | | | | | 33 | 0.08 | — |
| | Mana | | | | | | 15 | 0.04 | -0.48 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 13 | 0.03 | -0.05 |
| | United Future | | | | | | 12 | 0.03 | -0.23 |
| | Internet | | | | | | 6 | 0.01 | -0.51 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 658 | | | 151 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 39,798 | | | 40,460 | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 14,335 | 36.02 | -2.35 | | | |

### 2014 election

2014 general election: Taupō :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Y Louise Upston | Y Louise Upston | 22,428 | 62.59 | −1.06 | 20,703 | 56.94 | +0.63 |
| | Labour | Jamie Strange | Jamie Strange | 7,402 | 20.64 | −0.09 | 6,752 | 18.57 | −1.71 |
| | NZ First | Edwin Perry | Edwin Perry | 2,310 | 6.44 | +1.85 | 3,730 | 10.26 | +1.87 |
| | Green | Dave Robinson | Dave Robinson | 1,934 | 5.39 | −0.86 | 2,224 | 6.12 | −1.43 |
| | Conservative | Lance Gedge | Lance Gedge | 891 | 2.48 | −0.26 | 1,236 | 4.75 | +1.09 |
| | Māori Party | Claire Winitana | Claire Winitana | 366 | 1.02 | +1.02 | 298 | 0.82 | +0.15 |
| | United Future | Alan Simmons | Alan Simmons | 143 | 0.40 | −0.26 | 94 | 0.26 | −0.66 |
| | Democrats | John Pemberton | John Pemberton | 71 | 0.20 | +0.20 | 29 | 0.08 | +0.02 |
| | Ban 1080 | | | | | | 223 | 0.61 | +0.61 |
| | Internet Mana | | | | | | 190 | 0.52 | +0.11 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 148 | 0.41 | −0.06 |
| | ACT | | | | | | 91 | 0.25 | −0.91 |
| | Civilian | | | | | | 13 | 0.03 | +0.03 |
| | Independent Coalition | | | | | | 10 | 0.03 | +0.03 |
| | Focus | | | | | | 7 | 0.02 | +0.02 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 299 | | | 121 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 35,384 | | | 36,362 | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 13,951 | 38.37 | −4.55 | | | |

### 2011 election

2011 general election: Taupō :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Y Louise Upston | Y Louise Upston | 20,934 | 63.65 | +5.74 | 19,003 | 56.31 | +2.74 |
| | Labour | Frances Campbell | Frances Campbell | 6,819 | 20.73 | -18.71 | 6,844 | 20.28 | -8.92 |
| | Green | Zane McCarthy | Zane McCarthy | 2,056 | 6.25 | +6.25 | 2,549 | 7.55 | +3.05 |
| | NZ First | Edwin Perry | Edwin Perry | 1,508 | 4.59 | +4.59 | 2,833 | 8.39 | +3.25 |
| | Conservative | Mark Breetvelt | Mark Breetvelt | 900 | 2.74 | +2.74 | 1,236 | 3.66 | +3.66 |
| | Mana | Keriana Reedy | Keriana Reedy | 266 | 0.81 | +0.81 | 140 | 0.41 | +0.41 |
| | United Future | Alan Simmons | Alan Simmons | 216 | 0.66 | -0.42 | 311 | 0.92 | +0.12 |
| | ACT | Rosanne Jollands | Rosanne Jollands | 190 | 0.58 | +0.58 | 394 | 1.17 | -2.34 |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 226 | 0.67 | -0.25 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 157 | 0.47 | +0.13 |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 22 | 0.07 | +0.03 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 20 | 0.06 | -0.01 |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 12 | 0.04 | -0.02 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 721 | | | 239 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 32,889 | | | 33,747 | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 14,115 | 42.92 | +24.45 | | | |
Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 45,800

### 2008 election

2008 general election: Taupō :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Louise Upston | Louise Upston | 20,211 | 57.91 | +16.84 | 19,001 | 53.57 | +9.32 |
| | Labour | N Mark Burton | N Mark Burton | 13,766 | 39.44 | -6.06 | 10,359 | 29.20 | -8.10 |
| | United Future | Max Edwards | Max Edwards | 377 | 1.08 | -0.98 | 284 | 0.80 | -1.81 |
| | Independent | Robbie Mac | Robbie Mac | 313 | 0.90 | | | | |
| | Independent | Martin Bloxham | Martin Bloxham | 236 | 0.68 | | | | |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 1,824 | 5.14 | -2.61 |
| | Green | | | | | | 1,599 | 4.51 | +0.80 |
| | ACT | | | | | | 1,245 | 3.51 | +2.29 |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 325 | 0.92 | -0.23 |
| | Progressive | | | | | | 236 | 0.67 | -0.30 |
| | Bill and Ben | | | | | | 199 | 0.56 | |
| | Kiwi | | | | | | 133 | 0.37 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 119 | 0.34 | +0.06 |
| | Family Party | | | | | | 61 | 0.17 | |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 23 | 0.06 | +0.01 |
| | Pacific | | | | | | 22 | 0.06 | |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 20 | 0.06 | +0.01 |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 13 | 0.04 | |
| | Workers Party | | | | | | 6 | 0.02 | |
| | RONZ | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | |
| | RAM | | | | | | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 424 | | | 201 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,903 | | | 35,472 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,937 | 80.15 | -0.09 | | | |
| | National gain from Labour | National gain from Labour | Majority | 6,445 | 18.47 | +22.90 | | | |

### 2005 election

2005 general election: Taupo :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Y Mark Burton | Y Mark Burton | 13,211 | 45.50 | -10.12 | 10,977 | 37.30 | -2.30 |
| | National | Weston Kirton | Weston Kirton | 11,926 | 41.07 | +12.15 | 13,020 | 44.25 | +22.34 |
| | NZ First | Kristin Campbell Smith | Kristin Campbell Smith | 1,337 | 4.60 | | 2,281 | 7.75 | -5.59 |
| | Green | John Davis | John Davis | 751 | 2.59 | -2.50 | 1,093 | 3.71 | -1.68 |
| | United Future | Paul Check | Paul Check | 598 | 2.06 | -1.20 | 769 | 2.61 | -2.99 |
| | Māori Party | Billy Maea | Billy Maea | 501 | 1.73 | | 338 | 1.15 | |
| | ACT | Andrew Jollands | Andrew Jollands | 275 | 0.75 | -3.23 | 358 | 1.22 | -5.03 |
| | Destiny | Charles Te Kowhai | Charles Te Kowhai | 260 | 0.90 | | 142 | 0.48 | |
| | Progressive | David Reeks | David Reeks | 167 | 0.58 | -0.40 | 285 | 0.97 | -0.58 |
| | RONZ | Debra Potroz | Debra Potroz | 11 | 0.04 | | 2 | 0.01 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 82 | 0.28 | -0.22 |
| | Christian Heritage | | | | | | 24 | 0.08 | |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 15 | 0.05 | -5.49 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 15 | 0.05 | |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 12 | 0.04 | |
| | Family Rights | | | | | | 5 | 0.02 | |
| | Direct Democracy | | | | | | 4 | 0.01 | |
| | 99 MP | | | | | | 2 | 0.01 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 2 | 0.01 | -0.04 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 207 | | | 95 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 29,037 | | | 29,426 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,722 | 80.24 | +4.48 | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 1,285 | 4.43 | -22.27 | | | |

### 2002 election

2002 general election: Taupo :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Y Mark Burton | Y Mark Burton | 14,851 | 55.62 | +6.20 | 10,775 | 39.60 | +0.74 |
| | National | Weston Kirton | Weston Kirton | 7,723 | 28.92 | -7.61 | 5,961 | 21.91 | -11.67 |
| | Green | Nicholas Fisher | Nicholas Fisher | 1,359 | 5.09 | +1.50 | 1,467 | 5.39 | +0.37 |
| | ACT | Diane Mulcock | Diane Mulcock | 1,062 | 3.98 | +0.82 | 1,700 | 6.25 | -0.81 |
| | United Future | Denis Gilmore | Denis Gilmore | 871 | 3.26 | | 1,523 | 5.60 | +3.99$^a$ |
| | Christian Heritage | Donald Wishart | Donald Wishart | 360 | 1.35 | -0.74 | 292 | 1.07 | -0.80 |
| | Progressive | Victor Bradley | Victor Bradley | 261 | 0.98 | | 426 | 1.55 | |
| | Alliance | John Harré | John Harré | 214 | 0.80 | -1.52 | 193 | 0.73 | -4.81 |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 3,629 | 13.34 | +8.81 |
| | ORNZ | | | | | | 1,072 | 3.94 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 137 | 0.50 | -0.45 |
| | Mana Māori | | | | | | 19 | 0.07 | +0.01 |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 13 | 0.05 | -0.01 |
| | NMP | | | | | | 1 | 0.00 | -0.03 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 371 | | | 85 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 26,701 | | | 27,210 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,538 | 75.76 | | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 7,128 | 26.70 | +13.81 | | | |
    $^a$ United Future swing is compared to the 1999 results of United NZ and Future NZ, who merged in 2000.

### 1999 election

1999 general election: Taupo :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Y Mark Burton | Y Mark Burton | 13,721 | 49.42 | | 10,876 | 38.86 | |
| | National | David Steele | David Steele | 10,143 | 36.53 | | 9,399 | 33.58 | |
| | Green | Nick Fisher | Nick Fisher | 997 | 3.59 | | 1,405 | 5.02 | |
| | ACT | Richard Steele | Richard Steele | 877 | 3.16 | | 1,976 | 7.06 | |
| | NZ First | Ross Honeyfield | Ross Honeyfield | 718 | 2.59 | | 1,269 | 4.53 | |
| | Alliance | Wayne Morris | Wayne Morris | 644 | 2.32 | | 1,550 | 5.54 | |
| | Christian Heritage | John van der Zee | John van der Zee | 580 | 2.09 | | 524 | 1.87 | |
| | Mauri Pacific | Rovina Anderson | Rovina Anderson | 51 | 0.18 | | 20 | 0.71 | |
| | Mana Wahine | Makere Rangitoheriri | Makere Rangitoheriri | 34 | 0.12 | | | | |
| | Future NZ | | | | | | 341 | 1.22 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 265 | 0.95 | |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 111 | 0.40 | |
| | United NZ | | | | | | 110 | 0.39 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | | | | | | 41 | 0.15 | |
| | Animals First | | | | | | 36 | 0.13 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 17 | 0.06 | |
| | Mana Māori | | | | | | 16 | 0.06 | |
| | Natural Law | | | | | | 8 | 0.03 | |
| | NMP | | | | | | 8 | 0.03 | |
| | Freedom Movement | | | | | | 6 | 0.02 | |
| | People's Choice | | | | | | 5 | 0.02 | |
| | Republican | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | |
| | South Island | | | | | | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 514 | | | 293 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 27,765 | | | 27,986 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 3,578 | 12.89 | | | | |

### 1981 election

1981 general election: Taupo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Roger McClay | 6,883 | 38.44 | |
| | Labour | Jack Ridley | 6,847 | 38.24 | −3.87 |
| | Social Credit | Jim Elder | 4,175 | 23.31 | +6.76 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36 | 0.20 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,905 | 86.32 | +19.62 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,742 | | |
* Result as declared by the High Court after an electoral petition.

### 1978 election

1978 general election: Taupo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack Ridley | 7,119 | 42.11 | +2.22 |
| | National | Lesley A. Miller | 6,510 | 38.51 | |
| | Social Credit | Jim Elder | 2,798 | 16.55 | |
| | Values | Warwick Keys | 477 | 2.82 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 609 | 3.60 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,904 | 66.70 | −13.86 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 25,341 | | |

### 1975 election

1975 general election: Taupo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Ray La Varis | 8,821 | 48.82 | |
| | Labour | Jack Ridley | 7,207 | 39.89 | −9.72 |
| | Social Credit | Dorothy Gould | 1,177 | 6.51 | |
| | Values | John Grant | 862 | 4.77 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,614 | 8.93 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,067 | 80.56 | −7.52 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,425 | | |

### 1972 election

1972 general election: Taupo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack Ridley | 7,484 | 49.61 | |
| | National | James Frederick Higgins | 6,701 | 44.42 | |
| | Social Credit | Robert Smith | 711 | 4.71 | |
| | New Democratic | N D Fairweather | 111 | 0.73 | |
| | Liberal Reform | P M Fenton | 76 | 0.50 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 783 | 5.19 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,083 | 88.08 | +0.39 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,123 | | |

### 1969 election

1969 general election: Taupo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Rona Stevenson | 7,148 | 46.16 | +1.14 |
| | Labour | Arthur John Ingram | 7,041 | 45.46 | |
| | Social Credit | H M New | 1,296 | 8.36 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 107 | 0.69 | −1.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,485 | 87.69 | +0.42 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,658 | | |

### 1966 election

1966 general election: Taupo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Rona Stevenson | 6,608 | 45.02 | +3.16 |
| | Labour | Barry Gustafson | 6,350 | 43.26 | |
| | Social Credit | J C Dunn | 1,719 | 11.71 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 258 | 1.75 | −0.17 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,677 | 87.27 | −2.17 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,817 | | |
In 1966 National, afraid the seat would go to Labour, poured thousands of dollars into the local campaign. A hundred women from all over Waikato canvassed every house in Tokoroa and Putāruru over two days, using the street lists and blue dot system. The seat was held by 258 votes.

### 1963 election

1963 general election: Taupo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | National | Rona Stevenson | 5,995 | 41.86 |
| | Labour | Arthur John Ingram | 5,720 | 39.94 |
| | Social Credit | C R Watson | 1,093 | 7.63 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 275 | 1.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,808 | 89.44 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,319 | |