# New Zealand electorates

An electorate or electoral district (Māori: rohe pōti) is a geographic constituency used for electing a member (MP) to the New Zealand Parliament. The size of electorates is determined such that all electorates have approximately the same electoral population.
Before 1996, all MPs were directly chosen for office by the voters of an electorate. In New Zealand's electoral system, 72 of the usually 120 seats in Parliament are filled by electorate members, with the remainder being filled from party lists in order to achieve proportional representation among parties. The 72 electorates are made up from 65 general and seven Māori electorates. The number of electorates increases periodically in line with national population growth; the number was increased from 71 to 72 starting at the 2020 general election.

## Terminology

The Electoral Act 1993 refers to electorates as "electoral districts". Electorates are informally referred to as "seats" (Māori: tūru), but technically the term seat refers to an elected member's place in Parliament.

## Distribution
### Under first-past-the-post (1853–1993)

The electoral boundaries for the inaugural 1853 general election were drawn up by the governor, George Grey, with the authority for this coming from the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852. After the initial election, there were eight redivisions carried out by members of the general assembly (as the lower house was known at the time). These revisions were a mixture of minor and major boundary adjustments. In 1887, the responsibility for reshaping electorates was given to a Representation Commission and that arrangement has remained to this day. Up until 1981, the boundaries of the Māori electorates were determined by the governor or governor-general, when that responsibility was also transferred to the Representation Commission.
Elections for the 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). Each electorate was allocated a different number of MPs (up to three) in order to balance electoral population differences. All electorates used a plurality voting system. From 1881, a special country quota meant that rural seats could contain fewer people than urban seats, preserving improportionality by over-representing the rural electoral population (mostly made up by farmers). The country quota inflated the number of the electoral population outside of cities and certain towns by some percentage. The quota was at first 33% (1881–1887), then briefly 18% (1887–1889), and 28% for the remaining period (1889–1945). For the 1905 election, the multi-member electorates were abolished. The country quota system persisted until 1945.

### Under mixed-member proportional representation (since 1996)

| Election Year | Parliament | North Island electorates | Māori electorates |
| 1996 | 45th | 44 | 5 |
| 1999 | 46th | 45 | 6 |
| 2002 | 47th | 46 | 7 |
| 2005 | 48th | 46 | 7 |
| 2008 | 49th | 47 | 7 |
| 2011 | 50th | 47 | 7 |
| 2014 | 51st | 48 | 7 |
| 2017 | 52nd | 48 | 7 |
| 2020 | 53rd | 49 | 7 |
| 2023 | 54th | 49 | 7 |
| 2026 | 55th | 48 | 7 |
Since the introduction of MMP for the 1996 election, the number of South Island electorates is fixed at 16 as stipulated in the legislation. To achieve electorates of equal electoral population, the number of North Island electorates has gradually increased since the North Island experienced higher population growth than the South island. At the 1996 election, there were 44 North Island electorates. By the 2023 election, this had increased to 49 electorates. In October 2024, Statistics New Zealand announced that population changes necessitated reducing the number of North Island general electorates by one, bringing the total number of North Island general electorates to 48.
Because of the increasing North Island population, the Representation Commission awarded the North Island an additional electoral seat beginning in the 2008 general election. Another new North Island seat was added for the 2014 general election, and again for the 2020 general election (with one new electorate in Auckland). Each time, the need for an additional 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 48 since the introduction of mixed-member proportional voting in the 1996 general election.

### Representation Commission

The Representation Commission has determined general electorate boundaries since 1881. These days, 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).
The Representation Commission reviews electorate boundaries after each New Zealand census, which normally occurs every five years. The Electoral Act 1993 stipulates that the South Island is to have 16 general electorates, and dividing the number of persons in the South Island's general electoral population by 16 determines the South Island Quota. This quota is then used to 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 electoral 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 electorates. South Island Māori opting for the general roll are included in the electoral population on which the South Island Quota is established. The North Island electoral population (including Māori opting for the general roll) is divided into electorates, each of approximately the same electoral population as the South Island ones. Electorates may vary by no more than 5% of the average electoral population size. 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.
Although the New Zealand Parliament is intended to have 120 members, some terms have exceeded this quantity. Overhang seats arise when a party win more seats via electorates than their proportion of the party vote entitles them to; other parties are still awarded the same number of seats that they are entitled to, which results in more than 120 seats in total. In 2005 and 2011, 121 members were elected; 122 members were elected in 2008.

## Naming conventions

The Representation Commission determines the names of each electorate following the most recent census. An electorate may be named after a geographic region, landmark (e.g. a mountain) or main population area. 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

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 gold rush—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. Three goldminers' electorates existed, the first began in 1863 and both ended in 1870.

### Māori electorates

Much more durable have been the Māori electorates, created in 1867 to give separate representation to Māori. Although originally intended to be temporary, they came to function as reserved positions for Māori until 1967, ensuring that there would always be a Māori voice in Parliament. In 1967 the reserved status of the Māori seats was removed, allowing non-Māori to stand in the Māori electorates. Until 1993 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. 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.
Since the introduction of MMP in 1996, 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. In 1996, there were five Māori electorates. For the 1999 election, this increased to six electorates. Since the 2002 election, the number of Māori electorates has stayed constant at seven.

## Electorates in the 54th Parliament

This table shows the electorates as they were represented during the 54th New Zealand Parliament. [NB "Port Waitako" on the map should read "Port Waikato".]

### General electorates

| Electorate | Region | Namesake | MP | Party |
| Auckland Central | Auckland | Auckland | Chlöe Swarbrick | Green |
| Banks Peninsula | Canterbury | Banks Peninsula | Vanessa Weenink | National |
| Bay of Plenty | Bay of Plenty | Bay of Plenty | Tom Rutherford | National |
| Botany | Auckland | Botany Downs | Christopher Luxon | National |
| Christchurch Central | Canterbury | Christchurch | Duncan Webb | Labour |
| Christchurch East | Canterbury | Christchurch | Reuben Davidson | Labour |
| Coromandel | Waikato | Coromandel Peninsula | Scott Simpson | National |
| Dunedin | Otago | Dunedin | Rachel Brooking | Labour |
| East Coast | Gisborne and Bay of Plenty | East Coast | Dana Kirkpatrick | National |
| East Coast Bays | Auckland | East Coast Bays | Erica Stanford | National |
| Epsom | Auckland | Epsom | David Seymour | ACT |
| Hamilton East | Waikato | Hamilton | Ryan Hamilton | National |
| Hamilton West | Waikato | Hamilton | Tama Potaka | National |
| Hutt South | Wellington | Hutt Valley | Chris Bishop | National |
| Ilam | Canterbury | Ilam | Hamish Campbell | National |
| Invercargill | Southland | Invercargill | Penny Simmonds | National |
| Kaikōura | Marlborough and Canterbury | Kaikōura | Stuart Smith | National |
| Kaipara ki Mahurangi | Auckland | Kaipara Harbour and Mahurangi Harbour | Chris Penk | National |
| Kelston | Auckland | Kelston | Carmel Sepuloni | Labour |
| Mana | Wellington | Mana Island | Barbara Edmonds | Labour |
| Māngere | Auckland | Māngere | Lemauga Lydia Sosene | Labour |
| Manurewa | Auckland | Manurewa | Arena Williams | Labour |
| Maungakiekie | Auckland | Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill | Greg Fleming | National |
| Mt Albert | Auckland | Mount Albert | Helen White | Labour |
| Mt Roskill | Auckland | Mount Roskill | Carlos Cheung | National |
| Napier | Hawke's Bay | Napier | Katie Nimon | National |
| Nelson | Nelson and Tasman | Nelson | Rachel Boyack | Labour |
| New Lynn | Auckland | New Lynn | Paulo Garcia | National |
| New Plymouth | Taranaki | New Plymouth | David MacLeod | National |
| North Shore | Auckland | North Shore | Simon Watts | National |
| Northcote | Auckland | Northcote | Dan Bidois | National |
| Northland | Northland | Northland Region | Grant McCallum | National |
| Ōhāriu | Wellington | Ohariu | Greg O'Connor | Labour |
| Ōtaki | Wellington and Manawatū-Whanganui | Ōtaki River | Tim Costley | National |
| Pakuranga | Auckland | Pakuranga | Simeon Brown | National |
| Palmerston North | Manawatū-Whanganui | Palmerston North | Tangi Utikere | Labour |
| Panmure-Ōtāhuhu | Auckland | Panmure and Ōtāhuhu | Jenny Salesa | Labour |
| Papakura | Auckland | Papakura | Judith Collins | National |
| Port Waikato | Auckland and Waikato | Port Waikato | Andrew Bayly | National |
| Rangitata | Canterbury | Rangitata River | James Meager | National |
| Rangitīkei | Manawatū-Whanganui | Rangitīkei River | Suze Redmayne | National |
| Remutaka | Wellington | Remutaka Range | Chris Hipkins | Labour |
| Rongotai | Wellington and the Chatham Islands | Rongotai | Julie Anne Genter | Green |
| Rotorua | Bay of Plenty | Rotorua | Todd McClay | National |
| Selwyn | Canterbury | Selwyn River | Nicola Grigg | National |
| Southland | Southland and Otago | Southland Region | Joseph Mooney | National |
| Taieri | Otago | Taieri River | Ingrid Leary | Labour |
| Takanini | Auckland | Takanini | Rima Nakhle | National |
| Tāmaki | Auckland | Tamaki River | Brooke van Velden | ACT |
| Taranaki-King Country | Taranaki and Waikato | Taranaki region and King Country | Barbara Kuriger | National |
| Taupō | Waikato | Lake Taupō | Louise Upston | National |
| Tauranga | Bay of Plenty | Tauranga | Sam Uffindell | National |
| Te Atatū | Auckland | Te Atatū Peninsula | Phil Twyford | Labour |
| Tukituki | Hawke's Bay | Tukituki River | Catherine Wedd | National |
| Upper Harbour | Auckland | Upper Waitematā Harbour | Cameron Brewer | National |
| Waikato | Waikato | Waikato River | Tim van de Molen | National |
| Waimakariri | Canterbury | Waimakariri River | Matt Doocey | National |
| Wairarapa | Wellington, Manawatū-Whanganui and Hawke's Bay | Lake Wairarapa | Mike Butterick | National |
| Waitaki | Otago and Canterbury | Waitaki River | Miles Anderson | National |
| Wellington Central | Wellington | Wellington | Tamatha Paul | Green |
| West Coast-Tasman | West Coast and Tasman | West Coast region and Tasman district | Maureen Pugh | National |
| Whanganui | Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki | Whanganui River | Carl Bates | National |
| Whangaparāoa | Auckland | Whangaparāoa Peninsula | Mark Mitchell | National |
| Whangārei | Northland | Whangārei | Shane Reti | National |
| Wigram | Canterbury | Wigram | Megan Woods | Labour |

### Māori electorates

| Electorate | Region | Namesake/translation | MP | Party |
| Te Tai Tokerau | Northland and Auckland | "northern district" | Mariameno Kapa-Kingi | Māori |
| Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland | "Tāmaki desired by many" (the Māori name for Auckland) | Takutai Moana Kemp | Māori |
| Hauraki-Waikato | Auckland and Waikato | Hauraki Gulf and Waikato River | Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke | Māori |
| Waiariki | Bay of Plenty and Waikato | "chiefly waters" | Rawiri Waititi | Māori |
| Ikaroa-Rāwhiti | Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Manawatū-Whanganui and Wellington | long (roa) eastern (rāwhiti) electorate of the North Island / Te Ika-a-Māui | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel | Labour |
| Te Tai Hauāuru | Taranaki, Waikato, Manawatū-Whanganui and Wellington | "western district" | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer | Māori |
| Te Tai Tonga | The South Island, Wellington and the Chatham Islands | "southern district" | Tākuta Ferris | Māori |

## Abolished electorates
### General electorates

Electorates in New Zealand have changed extensively since 1853, typically to meet changing population distributions. Boundaries were last changed in 2019 and 2020 for the 2020 election, with Clutha-Southland, Dunedin North, Dunedin South, Helensville, Hunua, Manukau East, Port Hills and Rodney being abolished and replaced either by new electorates, or by surrounding electoral districts.

### Māori electorates

* Eastern Maori
* Hauraki
* Northern Maori
* Southern Maori
* Tainui
* Te Puku O Te Whenua
* Te Tai Rawhiti
* Western Maori

### Goldminers' electorates

* Goldfields (1862–1870)
* Gold Field Towns (1865–1870)
* Westland Boroughs (1866–1870)

## Footnotes

* ↑ Historically the only way to gain a seat in Parliament was to win an electorate, but under the present MMP system, MPs selected from party lists—called list MPs—are able to gain a seat without representing an electorate.
* ↑ Electoral Act 1993, s 35(3).
* ↑ Electoral Act 1993, s 45(3).
* ↑ Electoral Act 1993, s 35(3).