# Wellington Central (New Zealand electorate)

Wellington Central is an electorate, represented by a Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Wellington Central is Tamatha Paul of the Green Party. She has held this position since the 2023 general election.

## Population centres

Through the City Single Electorates Act, 1903, the three-member electorates of the four main centres were split again, and this became effective at the end of the 15th Parliament and was thus used for the 1905 election. The City of Wellington electorate split into the Wellington East, Wellington Central, and Wellington North electorates.
As of 1999 Wellington Central covered the central city and its immediate suburban periphery, stretching from Karori, Wilton and Wadestown in the west, to the summit of Mount Victoria in the east, and southwards to a boundary with the Rongotai electorate near Wellington Hospital. Prior to the 1999 election, its boundaries extended further north to include the suburbs of Ngaio and Khandallah.
Wellington Central has one of the most affluent and well-educated constituencies in New Zealand. It is home to many government agencies, as well as to the New Zealand Parliament Buildings and to two universities.
Following the 2014 boundary review, Wellington Central lost the suburb of Wadestown to the Ōhāriu electorate.

## History

Wellington Central was established in 1905 when the multi-member urban electorate City of Wellington was replaced by three new seats: Wellington East, Wellington North and Wellington Central. A prominent holder of the seat was Labour Party leader Peter Fraser, who was Prime Minister from 1940 to 1949. Wellington Central was nominally abolished in 1993, when a redistribution moved its boundary west, resulting in the new name of Wellington-Karori. Pauline Gardiner won the Wellington-Karori seat in 1993. Three years later, a new, larger Wellington Central was created as one of the 65 original MMP constituencies in time for the 1996 election.
The first elected MMP representative was ACT Party leader Richard Prebble, controversially elected in 1996 after National Party leader Jim Bolger indicated that National voters should give their electorate vote to Prebble, rather than to National candidate Mark Thomas, in order for ACT to get into parliament. Prebble would eventually become the third representative from Wellington Central in three elections to face defeat after a single term in office. Labour's Marian Hobbs held the seat from 1999, when she defeated Prebble, until 2008, when she retired. Grant Robertson retained Labour's hold on the seat in 2008 and has held the seat since.
A documentary, Campaign, directed by Tony Sutorius, highlighted the events surrounding the 1996 campaign in the electorate.

### Members of Parliament

Key
| New Liberal | Independent | Reform | Liberal |
| Labour | National | ACT | Green |
| Election | Winner |
| 1905 election | Francis Fisher |
| 1908 election | Francis Fisher |
| 1911 election | Francis Fisher |
| 1914 election | Robert Fletcher |
| 1918 by-election | Peter Fraser |
| 1919 election | Peter Fraser |
| 1922 election | Peter Fraser |
| 1925 election | Peter Fraser |
| 1928 election | Peter Fraser |
| 1931 election | Peter Fraser |
| 1935 election | Peter Fraser |
| 1938 election | Peter Fraser |
| 1943 election | Peter Fraser |
| 1946 election | Charles Chapman |
| 1949 election | Charles Chapman |
| 1951 election | Charles Chapman |
| 1954 election | Frank Kitts |
| 1957 election | Frank Kitts |
| 1960 election | Dan Riddiford |
| 1963 election | Dan Riddiford |
| 1966 election | Dan Riddiford |
| 1969 election | Dan Riddiford |
| 1972 election | Ken Comber |
| 1975 election | Ken Comber |
| 1978 election | Ken Comber |
| 1981 election | Fran Wilde |
| 1984 election | Fran Wilde |
| 1987 election | Fran Wilde |
| 1990 election | Fran Wilde |
| 1992 by-election | Chris Laidlaw |
| (electorate abolished 1993–1996, see Wellington-Karori) |||
| 1996 election | Richard Prebble |
| 1999 election | Marian Hobbs |
| 2002 election | Marian Hobbs |
| 2005 election | Marian Hobbs |
| 2008 election | Grant Robertson |
| 2011 election | Grant Robertson |
| 2014 election | Grant Robertson |
| 2017 election | Grant Robertson |
| 2020 election | Grant Robertson |
| 2023 election | Tamatha Paul |

### List MPs

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Wellington Central electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.
| Election | Winner |
| 1999 election | Richard Prebble |
| 2002 election | Stephen Franks |
| 2002 election | Sue Kedgley |
| 2005 election | Mark Blumsky |
| 2005 election | Sue Kedgley |
| 2008 election | Sue Kedgley |
| 2008 election | Heather Roy |
| 2013 | Paul Foster-Bell$^1$ |
| 2014 election | James Shaw |
| 2014 election | Paul Foster-Bell |
| 2017 election | James Shaw |
| 2018 | Nicola Willis$^2$ |
| 2020 election | James Shaw |
| 2020 election | Nicola Willis |
| 2020 election | Brooke van Velden |
$^1$Foster-Bell was elected from the party list in May 2013 following the resignation of Jackie Blue. $^2$Willis was elected from the party list in April 2018 following the resignation of Steven Joyce.

## Election results
### 2023 election

2023 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 | % | ±% |
| | Green | Tamatha Paul | Tamatha Paul | 18,439 | 40.56 | | 17,332 | 37.69 | +7.36 |
| | Labour | Ibrahim Omer | Ibrahim Omer | 12,373 | 27.22 | | 11,436 | 24.87 | -18.53 |
| | National | Scott Sheeran | Scott Sheeran | 11,555 | 25.42 | | 9,855 | 21.43 | +7.00 |
| | Opportunities | Natalia Albert | Natalia Albert | 1,554 | 3.42 | | 2,536 | 5.51 | +1.79 |
| | NZ First | Taylor Arneil | Taylor Arneil | 493 | 1.08 | | 1,029 | 2.24 | +1.13 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Michael Appleby | Michael Appleby | 418 | 0.92 | +0.08 | 136 | 0.30 | +0.03 |
| | Animal Justice | Christopher Gordon | Christopher Gordon | 111 | 0.24 | | 61 | 0.14 | |
| | Vision New Zealand | Meg Lim | Meg Lim | 80 | 0.18 | | | | |
| | Workers Now | Don Franks | Don Franks | 67 | 0.15 | | | | |
| | Independent | Karl Thomas Geiringer | Karl Thomas Geiringer | 43 | 0.09 | | | | |
| | Independent | Pete Bains | Pete Bains | 36 | 0.08 | | | | |
| | ACT | | | | | | 2,075 | 4.51 | -0.35 |
| | Te Pāti Māori | | | | | | 1,106 | 2.40 | +1.87 |
| | NZ Loyal | | | | | | 80 | 0.17 | |
| | NewZeal | | | | | | 57 | 0.12 | ±0.00 |
| | Women's Rights | | | | | | 54 | 0.12 | |
| | Freedoms NZ | | | | | | 32 | 0.07 | |
| | New Conservative | | | | | | 31 | 0.07 | -0.33 |
| | DemocracyNZ | | | | | | 18 | 0.04 | |
| | New Nation | | | | | | 14 | 0.03 | |
| | Leighton Baker Party | | | | | | 11 | 0.02 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 287 | | | 126 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 45,456 | | | 45,989 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,252 | 84.48 | -4.49 | | | |
| | Green gain from Labour | Green gain from Labour | Majority | 6,066 | 13.34 | | | | |

### 2020 election

2020 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 Grant Robertson | Y Grant Robertson | 27,366 | 57.26 | +8 | 20,876 | 43.40 | +5.11 |
| | National | Nicola Willis | Nicola Willis | 8,488 | 17.76 | −7.99 | 6,937 | 14.43 | −16.1 |
| | Green | James Shaw | James Shaw | 8,381 | 17.54 | +2.15 | 14,587 | 30.33 | +8.99 |
| | Opportunities | Abe Gray | Abe Gray | 1,031 | 2.16 | −4.66 | 1,790 | 3.72 | −2.17 |
| | ACT | Brooke van Velden | Brooke van Velden | 865 | 1.81 | +1.5 | 2,339 | 4.86 | +4.09 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Michael Appleby | Michael Appleby | 401 | 0.84 | — | 132 | 0.27 | +0.7 |
| | Independent | Jesse Richardson | Jesse Richardson | 385 | 0.81 | | | | |
| | New Conservative | Liam Richfield | Liam Richfield | 401 | 0.45 | | 204 | 0.42 | +0.35 |
| | Advance NZ | Rose Greally | Rose Greally | 108 | 0.23 | | 103 | 0.21 | |
| | ONE | Gina Sunderland | Gina Sunderland | 84 | 0.18 | | 56 | 0.12 | |
| | Outdoors | Bruce Robert | Bruce Robert | 76 | 0.16 | | 27 | 0.06 | +0.03 |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 537 | 1.11 | -1.15 |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 255 | 0.53 | -0.01 |
| | Sustainable NZ | | | | | | 32 | 0.07 | |
| | Social Credit | | | | | | 18 | 0.04 | |
| | TEA | | | | | | 12 | 0.02 | |
| | Vision NZ | | | | | | 8 | 0.01 | |
| | Heartland | | | | | | 1 | 0.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 386 | | | 176 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 47,787 | | | 48,090 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,090 | 88.97 | +2.41 | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 18,878 | 39.5 | +15.99 | | | |

### 2017 election

2017 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 Grant Robertson | Y Grant Robertson | 20,873 | 49.26 | −2.38 | 16,500 | 38.29 | +14.51 |
| | National | Nicola Willis | Nicola Willis | 10,910 | 25.75 | −4.34 | 13,156 | 30.53 | −7.01 |
| | Green | James Shaw | James Shaw | 6,520 | 15.39 | +2.15 | 9,198 | 21.34 | −8.16 |
| | Opportunities | Geoff Simmons | Geoff Simmons | 2,892 | 6.82 | — | 2,538 | 5.89 | — |
| | NZ First | Andy Foster | Andy Foster | 797 | 1.88 | +0.37 | 972 | 2.26 | −1.32 |
| | Independent | Gayaal Iddamalgoda | Gayaal Iddamalgoda | 161 | 0.38 | — | | | |
| | ACT | Michael Warren | Michael Warren | 131 | 0.31 | — | 330 | 0.77 | +0.07 |
| | Independent | Peter Robinson | Peter Robinson | 71 | 0.17 | −0.11 | | | |
| | Not A Party | Bob Wessex | Bob Wessex | 19 | 0.04 | — | | | |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 225 | 0.52 | −0.25 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 55 | 0.13 | −0.19 |
| | Conservative | | | | | | 29 | 0.07 | −1.44 |
| | United Future | | | | | | 28 | 0.06 | −0.24 |
| | Mana | | | | | | 14 | 0.03 | −1.45 |
| | Ban 1080 | | | | | | 13 | 0.03 | −0.02 |
| | Outdoors | | | | | | 11 | 0.03 | — |
| | People's Party | | | | | | 10 | 0.03 | — |
| | Internet | | | | | | 9 | 0.02 | −1.46 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 6 | 0.01 | −0.06 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 194 | | | 72 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 42,374 | | | 43,094 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,166 | 86.56 | +2.42 | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 9,963 | 23.51 | +1.95 | | | |

### 2014 election

2014 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 Grant Robertson | Y Grant Robertson | 19,807 | 51.64 | +2.49 | 9,306 | 23.78 | -2.78 |
| | National | Paul Foster-Bell | Paul Foster-Bell | 11,540 | 30.09 | -2.42 | 14,689 | 37.54 | -0.88 |
| | Green | James Shaw | James Shaw | 5,077 | 13.24 | -0.39 | 11,545 | 29.50 | +1.81 |
| | NZ First | Hugh Barr | Hugh Barr | 580 | 1.51 | +0.78 | 1,399 | 3.58 | +0.70 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Alistair Gregory | Alistair Gregory | 353 | 0.92 | -0.13 | 127 | 0.32 | -0.09 |
| | Conservative | Brian Hooper | Brian Hooper | 307 | 0.80 | +0.18 | 590 | 1.51 | +0.82 |
| | Internet | Callum Valentine | Callum Valentine | 217 | 0.57 | +0.57 | | | |
| | Independent | Peter Robinson | Peter Robinson | 90 | 0.23 | +0.23 | | | |
| | Democrats | James Knuckey | James Knuckey | 57 | 0.15 | +0.15 | 26 | 0.07 | +0.03 |
| | Independent | Puhi Karena | Puhi Karena | 52 | 0.14 | +0.06 | | | |
| | Internet Mana | | | | | | 578 | 1.48 | +0.85 |
| | Maori Party | | | | | | 300 | 0.77 | +0.06 |
| | ACT | | | | | | 274 | 0.70 | -0.47 |
| | United Future | | | | | | 117 | 0.30 | -0.35 |
| | Civilian | | | | | | 49 | 0.13 | +0.13 |
| | Ban 1080 | | | | | | 20 | 0.05 | +0.05 |
| | Focus | | | | | | 5 | 0.01 | +0.01 |
| | Independent Coalition | | | | | | 5 | 0.01 | +0.01 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 273 | | | 101 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 38,353 | | | 39,131 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,232 | 84.14 | +2.33 | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 8,267 | 21.56 | +4.92 | | | |

### 2011 election

2011 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 Grant Robertson | Y Grant Robertson | 18,836 | 49.15 | +6.97 | 10,459 | 26.56 | -8.01 |
| | National | Paul Foster-Bell | Paul Foster-Bell | 12,460 | 32.51 | -4.96 | 15,128 | 38.42 | +3.01 |
| | Green | James Shaw | James Shaw | 5,225 | 13.63 | -1.14 | 10,903 | 27.69 | +7.08 |
| | ACT | Stephen Whittington | Stephen Whittington | 412 | 1.07 | -1.21 | 462 | 1.17 | -2.78 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Michael Appleby | Michael Appleby | 404 | 1.05 | +0.05 | 161 | 0.41 | +0.15 |
| | NZ First | Ben Craven | Ben Craven | 279 | 0.73 | +0.73 | 1,132 | 2.88 | +1.35 |
| | Pirate | Gynn Rickerby | Gynn Rickerby | 277 | 0.72 | +0.72 | | | |
| | Conservative | Paul Stipkovits | Paul Stipkovits | 236 | 0.62 | +0.62 | 270 | 0.69 | +0.69 |
| | Libertarianz | Reagan Cutting | Reagan Cutting | 69 | 0.18 | -0.01 | 40 | 0.10 | -0.01 |
| | Alliance | Kelly Buchanan | Kelly Buchanan | 52 | 0.14 | +0.14 | 18 | 0.05 | -0.003 |
| | New Economics | Laurence Boomert | Laurence Boomert | 44 | 0.11 | +0.11 | | | |
| | Independent | Puhi Karena | Puhi Karena | 32 | 0.08 | +0.08 | | | |
| | Maori Party | | | | | | 278 | 0.71 | -0.15 |
| | United Future | | | | | | 256 | 0.65 | -0.35 |
| | Mana | | | | | | 250 | 0.63 | +0.63 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 15 | 0.04 | +0.03 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 411 | | | 153 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 38,326 | | | 39,372 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 6,376 | 16.64 | +11.92 | | | |
Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 48,316

### 2008 election

2008 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 | Grant Robertson | Grant Robertson | 17,046 | 42.18 | | 14,244 | 34.57 | |
| | National | Stephen Franks | Stephen Franks | 15,142 | 37.47 | | 14,589 | 35.41 | |
| | Green | Sue Kedgley | Sue Kedgley | 5,971 | 14.78 | | 8,494 | 20.62 | |
| | ACT | Heather Roy | Heather Roy | 922 | 2.28 | | 1,628 | 3.95 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Michael Appleby | Michael Appleby | 407 | 1.01 | | 108 | 0.26 | |
| | United Future | Vaughan Smith | Vaughan Smith | 226 | 0.56 | | 412 | 1.00 | |
| | Workers Party | Don Franks | Don Franks | 171 | 0.42 | | 38 | 0.09 | |
| | Progressive | David Somerset | David Somerset | 141 | 0.35 | | 272 | 0.66 | |
| | Kiwi | Rebekah Clement | Rebekah Clement | 106 | 0.26 | | 84 | 0.20 | |
| | Libertarianz | Bernard Darnton | Bernard Darnton | 75 | 0.19 | | 48 | 0.12 | |
| | RAM | Grant Brookes | Grant Brookes | 61 | 0.15 | | 13 | 0.03 | |
| | Independent | Al Mansell | Al Mansell | 58 | 0.14 | – | | | |
| | RONZ | Justin Harnish | Justin Harnish | 46 | 0.11 | | 5 | 0.01 | |
| | Alliance | Richard Wallis | Richard Wallis | 39 | 0.10 | | 20 | 0.05 | |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 629 | 1.53 | |
| | Maori Party | | | | | | 351 | 0.85 | |
| | Bill and Ben | | | | | | 215 | 0.52 | |
| | Family Party | | | | | | 38 | 0.09 | |
| | Pacific | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 4 | 0.01 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 229 | | | 86 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 40,411 | | | 41,200 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 1,904 | | | | | |

### 2005 election

2005 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 Marian Hobbs | Y Marian Hobbs | 20,199 | 49.32 | +8.26 | 17,936 | 43.26 | |
| | National | Mark Blumsky | Mark Blumsky | 14,019 | 34.23 | +4.69 | 13,513 | 32.59 | |
| | Green | Sue Kedgley | Sue Kedgley | 3,737 | 9.12 | -3.93 | 6,530 | 15.75 | |
| | ACT | Stephen Franks | Stephen Franks | 1,254 | 3.06 | | 848 | 2.05 | |
| | United Future | Fiona McKenzie | Fiona McKenzie | 593 | 1.45 | | 1,068 | 2.58 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Michael Appleby | Michael Appleby | 426 | 1.04 | | 98 | 0.24 | |
| | Progressive | David Somerset | David Somerset | 173 | 0.26 | | 309 | 0.75 | |
| | Anti-Capitalist Alliance | Stephen Hay | Stephen Hay | 107 | 0.26 | | | | |
| | Libertarianz | Bernard Darnton | Bernard Darnton | 79 | 0.19 | | 42 | 0.10 | |
| | Alliance | Kane O'Connell | Kane O'Connell | 79 | 0.19 | | 35 | 0.08 | |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 707 | 1.71 | |
| | Maori Party | | | | | | 168 | 0.41 | |
| | Destiny | | | | | | 67 | 0.16 | |
| | Christian Heritage | | | | | | 24 | 0.06 | |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 10 | 0.02 | |
| | 99 MP | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | |
| | RONZ | | | | | | 4 | 0.01 | |
| | Family Rights | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | |
| | Direct Democracy | | | | | | 2 | 0.00 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 1 | 0.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 288 | | | 86 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 40,954 | | | 41,459 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 6,180 | 15.09 | +3.57 | | | |

### 1999 election

The National party did not stand a candidate in this election because of the events of the 1996 Wellington Central election where then leader Prime Minister Jim Bolger withdrew support for National’s candidate Mark Thomas just before the election in preference for Act leader Richard Prebble.
The absence of a National candidate in this election did not help Richard Prebble and he lost the seat to new Labour candidate Marian Hobbs.
1999 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 | Marian Hobbs | Marian Hobbs | 17,470 | 48.37 | +18.12 | 11,960 | 32.71 | +6.41 |
| | ACT | N Richard Prebble | N Richard Prebble | 15,988 | 44.27 | +9.49 | 2,807 | 7.68 | +1.07 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Michael Appleby | Michael Appleby | 787 | 2.18 | +0.93 | 582 | 1.59 | -0.63 |
| | Christian Democrats | Anthony Walton | Anthony Walton | 394 | 1.09 | | 297 | 0.81 | |
| | United NZ | Kent Clark | Kent Clark | 324 | 0.90 | -4.64 | 394 | 1.08 | -1.72 |
| | NZ First | Jonathan Mosen | Jonathan Mosen | 308 | 0.85 | +0.66 | 507 | 1.39 | -0.32 |
| | Christian Heritage | Leona Emberson-Ready | Leona Emberson-Ready | 226 | 0.63 | -0.10 | 315 | 0.86 | -1.51 |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | Amy Ross | Amy Ross | 218 | 0.60 | +0.23 | 69 | 0.19 | -0.10 |
| | Independent | Marion Smith | Marion Smith | 218 | 0.60 | | | | |
| | Independent | Lea Barker | Lea Barker | 76 | 0.21 | | | | |
| | Asia Pacific | Bihua Fu | Bihua Fu | 56 | 0.16 | +0.02 | 0 | 0.00 | -0.07 |
| | Natural Law | Daniel Meares | Daniel Meares | 50 | 0.14 | +0.01 | 36 | 0.10 | -0.01 |
| | National | | | | | | 13,086 | 35.79 | -9.88 |
| | Green | | | | | | 3,543 | 9.69 | |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 2,787 | 7.62 | -1.54 |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 78 | 0.21 | +0.16 |
| | Animals First | | | | | | 43 | 0.12 | -0.05 |
| | Mauri Pacific | | | | | | 21 | 0.06 | |
| | Mana Māori | | | | | | 11 | 0.03 | -0.08 |
| | NMP | | | | | | 10 | 0.03 | |
| | South Island | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | |
| | Republican | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | |
| | Freedom Movement | | | | | | 2 | 0.01 | |
| | The People's Choice | | | | | | 2 | 0.01 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 1 | 0.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 631 | | | 184 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 36,115 | | | 36,562 | | |
| | Labour gain from ACT | Labour gain from ACT | Majority | 1,482 | 4.10 | +13.81 | | | |

### 1996 election

The 1996 election, the first under the new electoral system MMP, saw ACT candidate and former Labour Cabinet Minister Richard Prebble compete against former National Party Wellington-Karori MP Pauline Gardiner now standing for United New Zealand, the National party candidate Mark Thomas, Labour's Alick Shaw and Danna Glendining for the Alliance.
The election campaign saw Prime Minister Jim Bolger endorse Richard Prebble shortly before the election in preference to Thomas. The events were captured in the movie Campaign. The electorate was won by Richard Prebble.
1996 general election: Wellington Central :
| 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 | % | ±% |
| | ACT | Richard Prebble | Richard Prebble | 14,269 | 34.78 | | 2,717 | 6.61 | |
| | Labour | Alick Shaw | Alick Shaw | 12,409 | 30.25 | | 10,816 | 26.30 | |
| | National | Mark Thomas | Mark Thomas | 8,794 | 21.44 | | 18,780 | 45.67 | |
| | United NZ | N Pauline Gardiner | N Pauline Gardiner | 2,233 | 5.54 | | 1,151 | 2.80 | |
| | Alliance | Danna Glendining | Danna Glendining | 1,356 | 3.31 | | 3,766 | 9.16 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Michael Appleby | Michael Appleby | 513 | 1.25 | | 912 | 2.22 | |
| | NZ First | Sarah Porter | Sarah Porter | 480 | 1.17 | | 707 | 1.71 | |
| | Christian Coalition | Robin Corner | Robin Corner | 300 | 0.73 | | 973 | 2.37 | |
| | Independent | Andy Foster | Andy Foster | 214 | 0.52 | | | | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | Ross Gardner | Ross Gardner | 151 | 0.37 | | 121 | 0.29 | |
| | Progressive Green | Alison Davis | Alison Davis | 137 | 0.33 | | 121 | 0.29 | |
| | Asia Pacific | Rama Ramanathan | Rama Ramanathan | 59 | 0.14 | | 27 | 0.07 | |
| | Natural Law | Daniel Meares | Daniel Meares | 54 | 0.13 | | 47 | 0.11 | |
| | Mana Māori | Waiariki Grace | Waiariki Grace | 27 | 0.13 | | 47 | 0.11 | |
| | Libertarianz | Nikolas Haden | Nikolas Haden | 19 | 0.05 | | 21 | 0.05 | |
| | Independent | Peter Franklin Robinson | Peter Franklin Robinson | 11 | 0.03 | | | | |
| | Animals First | | | | | | 69 | 0.17 | |
| | Ethnic Minority | | | | | | 23 | 0.06 | |
| | Superannuitants & Youth | | | | | | 14 | 0.03 | |
| | Green Society | | | | | | 11 | 0.03 | |
| | Advance NZ | | | | | | 10 | 0.02 | |
| | Conservatives | | | | | | 6 | 0.01 | |
| | Te Tawharau | | | | | | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 203 | | | 109 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 41,026 | | | 41,120 | | |
| | ACT win new seat | ACT win new seat | Majority | 1,860 | 15.09 | | | | |

### 1992 by-election

1992 Wellington Central by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Laidlaw | 6,075 | 38.83 | −2.55 |
| | National | Pauline Gardiner | 5,220 | 33.37 | −6.90 |
| | Alliance | Denis Welch | 3,407 | 21.78 | +4.36$^1$ |
| | Independent | David Stevenson | 389 | 2.49 | |
| | Natural Law | Ian Douglas | 263 | 1.68 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Wayne Chapman | 154 | 0.98 | |
| | Independent | Tim Shadbolt | 64 | 0.41 | |
| | Wizard Party | Tony Catford | 40 | 0.26 | |
| | Values | John Carter | 17 | 0.11 | |
| | Communist League | Felicty Coggan | 14 | 0.09 | |
| | Christ's Ambassadors Union | Victor Bryers | 1 | 0.01 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 855 | 5.47 | +4.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,644 | 63.30$^2$ | −25.37$^2$ |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### 1990 election

1990 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fran Wilde | 9,069 | 41.39 | −13.15 |
| | National | Pauline Gardiner | 8,823 | 40.26 | |
| | Green | Stephen Rainbow | 3,164 | 14.45 | |
| | NewLabour | Jeff Montgomery | 604 | 2.76 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | P P Clarke | 175 | 0.80 | |
| | Democrats | R Henderson | 49 | 0.22 | |
| | Communist League | Janet Roth | 29 | 0.13 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 246 | 1.12 | −20.55 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,913 | 88.67 | −1.43 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,714 | | |

### 1987 election

1987 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fran Wilde | 13,064 | 54.54 | +6.27 |
| | National | John Feast | 7,873 | 32.87 | +14.11 |
| | Democrats | M D Binney | 398 | 1.66 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | Mark Servian | 160 | 0.66 | |
| | Wizard Party | Tony Catford | 84 | 0.35 | +0.04 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,191 | 21.67 | +4.51 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,579 | 90.10 | −5.07 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,949 | | |

### 1984 election

1984 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fran Wilde | 11,579 | 48.27 | +0.13 |
| | National | Rosemary Young-Rouse | 7,463 | 31.11 | |
| | NZ Party | John Feast | 4,501 | 18.76 | |
| | Social Credit | Murray Belchamber | 314 | 1.30 | |
| | Wizard Party | Tony Catford | 76 | 0.31 | −0.03 |
| | Independent | Dean Matthews | 51 | 0.21 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,116 | 17.16 | +11.40 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,984 | 95.17 | +3.97 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 25,200 | | |

### 1981 election

1981 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fran Wilde | 10,719 | 48.14 | |
| | National | Ken Comber | 9,436 | 42.38 | −2.39 |
| | Social Credit | Malcolm Ross | 1,898 | 8.52 | |
| | Independent | Bill Manson | 90 | 0.40 | |
| | Wizard Party | Tony Catford | 76 | 0.34 | |
| | Independent | J F Stuart | 43 | 0.19 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,283 | 5.76 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,262 | 91.20 | +36.04 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,410 | | |

### 1978 election

1978 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Ken Comber | 9,741 | 44.77 | −3.38 |
| | Labour | Neville Pickering | 8,825 | 40.56 | |
| | Social Credit | Ron England | 1,893 | 8.70 | +6.35 |
| | Values | Karen Roper | 1,217 | 5.59 | |
| | Tory | Mark Gregory Robinson | 51 | 0.23 | |
| | Progressive Kiwi | David Mitchell | 29 | 0.13 | +0.07 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 916 | 4.21 | −1.21 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,756 | 55.16 | −20.88 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,435 | | |

### 1975 election

1975 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Ken Comber | 9,553 | 48.15 | +3.27 |
| | Labour | David Shand | 8,477 | 42.73 | −2.00 |
| | Values | Desmond Kelly | 1,326 | 6.68 | |
| | Social Credit | Ron England | 467 | 2.35 | |
| | Progressive Kiwi | David Mitchell | 13 | 0.06 | −0.47 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,076 | 5.42 | +5.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,836 | 76.04 | −82.56 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 26,083 | | |

### 1972 election

1972 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Ken Comber | 8,088 | 44.88 | |
| | Labour | David Shand | 8,061 | 44.73 | |
| | Values | Bob Overend | 1,232 | 6.83 | |
| | Social Credit | William Roy Hill | 455 | 2.52 | |
| | New Democratic | David Mitchell | 97 | 0.53 | |
| | Independent | Kevin Alan Brown | 87 | 0.48 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 0.14 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,020 | 89.60 | +3.85 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,111 | | |

### 1969 election

1969 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Dan Riddiford | 8,467 | 51.61 | −0.79 |
| | Labour | Olive Smuts-Kennedy | 6,267 | 38.20 | |
| | Social Credit | Godfrey Healy | 842 | 5.13 | −0.15 |
| | Independent | Mike Mitchell | 489 | 2.98 | |
| | Independent | Harry Low | 264 | 1.60 | |
| | Socialist Action | George Fyson | 76 | 0.46 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,200 | 13.41 | +2.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,405 | 85.75 | +5.96 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,131 | | |

### 1966 election

1966 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Dan Riddiford | 7,927 | 52.40 | −0.26 |
| | Labour | Rolland O'Regan | 6,214 | 41.08 | |
| | Social Credit | Godfrey Healy | 799 | 5.28 | |
| | Democratic | Harry Hughes | 185 | 1.22 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,713 | 11.32 | +2.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,125 | 79.79 | −8.44 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,954 | | |

### 1963 election

1963 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Dan Riddiford | 8,852 | 52.66 | +3.57 |
| | Labour | Frank Kitts | 7,344 | 43.69 | −2.86 |
| | Social Credit | D T Grooby | 409 | 2.43 | |
| | Communist | Kenneth Stanton | 111 | 0.66 | −0.18 |
| | Independent | H Trewby | 92 | 0.54 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,508 | 8.97 | +6.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,808 | 88.23 | +3.06 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,049 | | |

### 1960 election

1960 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Dan Riddiford | 7,373 | 49.09 | |
| | Labour | Frank Kitts | 6,992 | 46.55 | −6.37 |
| | Social Credit | Arthur Henry Norris | 526 | 3.50 | −0.61 |
| | Communist | Kenneth Stanton | 127 | 0.84 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 381 | 2.53 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,018 | 85.17 | −6.19 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,632 | | |

### 1957 election

1957 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Kitts | 8,980 | 52.92 | +3.45 |
| | National | Max Wall | 7,295 | 42.97 | |
| | Social Credit | Arthur Henry Norris | 699 | 4.11 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,685 | 9.92 | +5.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,974 | 91.36 | +6.06 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,579 | | |

### 1954 election

1954 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Kitts | 7,752 | 49.47 | |
| | National | Allan Highet | 7,125 | 45.47 | |
| | Social Credit | Eric Elliot | 791 | 5.04 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 627 | 4.00 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,668 | 85.30 | +2.20 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,367 | | |

### 1951 election

1951 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Chapman | 4,463 | 51.61 | −1.40 |
| | National | Berta Burns | 4,186 | 48.39 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 277 | 3.20 | −2.80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,649 | 83.10 | −4.44 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,407 | | |

### 1949 election

1949 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Chapman | 5,078 | 53.01 | −4.82 |
| | National | Will Appleton | 4,503 | 46.99 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 575 | 6.00 | −9.67 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,581 | 87.54 | −0.81 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,944 | | |

### 1946 election

1946 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Chapman | 6,201 | 57.83 | |
| | National | Agnes Weston | 4,521 | 42.17 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,680 | 15.67 | +7.52 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 96 | 0.89 | −0.60 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,818 | 88.35 | +7.75 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,245 | | |
Table footnotes:
* ↑ Claude Weston died suddenly on 10 November 1946 and was replaced by his wife

### 1943 election

1943 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 6,822 | 46.12 | −16.74 |
| | National | Will Appleton | 5,616 | 37.97 | +0.83 |
| | Independent | Colin Scrimgeour | 2,253 | 15.23 | |
| | Independent | Julius Hyde | 100 | 0.68 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,206 | 8.15 | −17.57 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 223 | 1.49 | +0.89 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,014 | 80.59 | +6.15 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,629 | | |

### 1938 election

1938 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 9,376 | 62.86 | −6.19 |
| | National | Will Appleton | 5,539 | 37.14 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,837 | 25.73 | −12.37 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 89 | 0.59 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,004 | 86.74 | +5.05 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,297 | | |

### 1935 election

1935 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 7,673 | 69.43 | 12.17 |
| | United/Reform | Will Mason | 3,380 | 30.57 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,293 | 38.84 | +16.41 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,053 | | |

### 1931 election

1931 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 6,308 | 57.26 | −3.55 |
| | United | Robert Darroch | 3,837 | 34.83 | |
| | Independent | Edward William Nicolaus | 688 | 6.25 | |
| | Communist | Richard Francis Griffin | 183 | 1.66 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,471 | 22.43 | −6.17 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 91 | 0.82 | −0.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,107 | 74.82 | −8.79 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,845 | | |

### 1928 election

1928 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 7,353 | 60.81 |
| | Reform | Dunbar Sloane | 3,895 | 32.21 |
| | Independent Labour | Margaret Young | 843 | 6.97 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,458 | 28.60 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 145 | 1.19 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,236 | 83.61 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,635 | |

### 1925 election

1925 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 5,459 | 64.02 | −0.71 |
| | Reform | Dunbar Sloane | 3,069 | 35.98 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,390 | 28.02 | −18.65 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,528 | | |

### 1922 election

1922 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 5,827 | 64.73 | +7.40 |
| | Independent | William Bennett | 1,625 | 18.05 | |
| | Liberal–Labour | Archibald Sievwright | 1,550 | 17.21 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,202 | 46.67 | +32.03 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 102 | 1.13 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,002 | | |

### 1919 election

1919 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 4,486 | 57.33 | +0.79 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Pirani | 3,430 | 42.67 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,146 | 14.64 | −19.77 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,826 | | |

### 1918 by-election

1918 Wellington Central by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Fraser | 2,668 | 56.54 | |
| | Independent Labour | Joe Mack | 1,044 | 22.12 | |
| | Liberal | William Hildreth | 784 | 16.61 | |
| | Independent | Harry Atmore | 185 | 3.92 | |
| | Independent | Lindsay John Frederick Garmston | 29 | 0.61 | |
| | Independent | William Cyril Tanner | 9 | 0.19 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,624 | 34.41 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,719 | 51.43 | −33.04 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,176 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### 1914 election

1914 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Robert Fletcher | 5,208 | 64.40 |
| | Reform | Francis Fisher | 2,879 | 35.60 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,329 | 28.80 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 84 | 1.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,171 | 84.47 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,673 | |

### 1911 election
#### First ballot

1911 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Francis Fisher | 2,987 | 39.71 |
| | Liberal | Robert Fletcher | 2,983 | 39.66 |
| | Labour | Tom Young | 1,372 | 18.24 |
| | Socialist | Frank Freeman | 180 | 2.39 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 0.05 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 121 | 1.58 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,643 | 70.89 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,781 | |

#### Second ballot

1911 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Francis Fisher | 3,813 | 50.87 |
| | Liberal | Robert Fletcher | 3,682 | 49.13 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 131 | 1.75 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 19 | 0.25 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,514 | 69.70 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,781 | |

### 1905 election

1905 general election: Wellington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | New Liberal | Francis Fisher | 3,142 | 48.63 |
| | Liberal | Patrick O'Regan | 2,698 | 41.76 |
| | Ind. Labour League | Albert Cooper | 243 | 3.76 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 90 | 1.39 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 444 | 6.87 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,353 | |

## Table footnotes

* ↑ 2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election
* ↑ 2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election
* ↑ 2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for Mana in 2011; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.
* ↑ 1999 Christian Heritage swing is relative to the votes for Christian Coalition in 1996; the Christian Coalition split back into the Christian Heritage Party and Christian Democrats.