# Electoral history of John Key

* This article is part of a series aboutJohn Key
Early life
MP for Helensville
Electoral history
Leader of the National Party
2006 leadership election
Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Cabinet
Prime Minister
Fifth National Government
Pike River Mine disaster
2011 Christchurch earthquake
GCSB
Tea tape scandal
Flag referendums
Trans-Pacific Partnership
2016 Kaikōura earthquake
General elections
2008
2011
2014 :
vte :
This is a summary of the electoral history of John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand (2008–2016), Leader of the National Party (2006–2016), and Member of Parliament for Helensville (2002–2017).

## History

Key had first decided to stand for National at the 2002 election in late 2001. He was then working at Merrill Lynch, an investment bank. Key decided to not stand on the list. One of the seats he considered standing in was Tamaki, but National officials convinced him not to stand, as Clem Simich—the Member of Parliament for Tamaki—had a good base in the electorate. Beverley Revell—a registered nurse—was Key's campaign manager. Key eventually chose Helensville to contest, against the unfavourably rated Brian Neeson. Many in National feared that Labour would take over the seat, and Key won the nomination 32–28. He also won the electorate at the 2002 election.
The 2005 election showed close results heading in with Don Brash as its leader, with Labour winning 48-50 seatwise, while also having large political party support. Brash later revealed in his autobiography that he never intended to spend a full term as prime minister, and would give the position over to Key. Key later deposed Brash from leader position after the 2005 election, in 2006.

## Parliamentary elections
### 2002 election

General election, 2002: Helensville :
| 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 | John Key | John Key | 9,775 | 34.18 | | 7,524 | 25.81 | |
| | Labour | Gary Russell | Gary Russell | 8,070 | 28.21 | | 8,988 | 30.83 | |
| | Independent | Brian Neeson | Brian Neeson | 5,644 | 19.73 | | | | |
| | NZ First | Dail Jones | Dail Jones | 2,725 | 9.53 | | 3,481 | 11.94 | |
| | United Future New Zealand | Andrea Deeth | Andrea Deeth | 1,184 | 4.14 | | 2,416 | 8.29 | |
| | Alliance | Helen MacKinlay | Helen MacKinlay | 581 | 2.03 | | 299 | 1.03 | |
| | Christian Heritage | David Simpkin | David Simpkin | 350 | 1.22 | | 288 | 0.99 | |
| | Progressive | Clare Dickson | Clare Dickson | 273 | 0.95 | | 272 | 0.93 | |
| | ACT | | | | | | 3,676 | 12.61 | |
| | Green | | | | | | 1,755 | 6.02 | |
| | ORNZ | | | | | | 313 | 1.07 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 118 | 0.40 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 15 | 0.05 | |
| | Mana Māori | | | | | | 10 | 0.03 | |
| | NMP | | | | | | 2 | 0.01 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 327 | | | 78 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 28,602 | | | 29,157 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,428 | 79.64 | | | | |
| | National win new seat | National win new seat | Majority | 1,705 | 5.96 | | | | |

### 2005 election

General election, 2005: Helensville :
| 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 John Key | Y John Key | 22,008 | 64.10 | +29.92 | 19,224 | 55.09 | +29.28 |
| | Labour | Judy Lawley | Judy Lawley | 9,230 | 26.88 | -0.24 | 9,761 | 27.97 | -2.86 |
| | NZ First | Dail Jones | Dail Jones | 1,400 | 4.08 | -5.45 | 2,051 | 5.88 | -6.06 |
| | United Future New Zealand | Andrea Deeth | Andrea Deeth | 573 | 1.67 | -2.47 | 863 | 2.47 | -5.82 |
| | ACT | Stephen Langford-Tebby | Stephen Langford-Tebby | 389 | 1.13 | | 821 | 2.35 | -10.26 |
| | Māori Party | Awa Hudson | Awa Hudson | 359 | 1.05 | | 142 | 0.41 | |
| | Progressive | Julian Aaron | Julian Aaron | 318 | 0.93 | -0.02 | 218 | 0.81 | -0.08 |
| | Green | Helen Koster | Helen Koster | 58 | 0.17 | | 1,407 | 4.03 | -1.99 |
| | Destiny | | | | | | 151 | 0.43 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 66 | 0.19 | -0.21 |
| | Christian Heritage | | | | | | 48 | 0.14 | -0.85 |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 16 | 0.05 | |
| | Direct Democracy | | | | | | 11 | 0.03 | |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 9 | 0.03 | -1.00 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | |
| | Family Rights | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | |
| | 99 MP | | | | | | 5 | 0.01 | |
| | RONZ | | | | | | 5 | 0.01 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 4 | 0.01 | -0.04 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 253 | | | 110 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,335 | | | 34,896 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,222 | 82.85 | +3.21 | | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 12,778 | 37.22 | +31.26 | | | |

### 2008 election

General election, 2008: Helensville :
| 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 John Key | Y John Key | 26,771 | 73.61 | +9.51 | 23,559 | 63.69 | +8.60 |
| | Labour | Darien Fenton | Darien Fenton | 6,224 | 17.11 | -9.77 | 6,826 | 18.45 | -9.52 |
| | Green | David Clendon | David Clendon | 2,166 | 5.96 | +5.79 | 1,814 | 4.90 | +0.87 |
| | ACT | David Garrett | David Garrett | 811 | 2.23 | +1.10 | 2,481 | 6.71 | +4.36 |
| | United Future New Zealand | Angela Lovelock | Angela Lovelock | 309 | 0.85 | -0.82 | 289 | 0.78 | -1.69 |
| | Libertarianz | Peter Osborne | Peter Osborne | 89 | 0.24 | | 21 | 0.06 | +0.01 |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 940 | 2.54 | -3.34 |
| | Progressive | | | | | | 195 | 0.53 | -0.28 |
| | Family Party | | | | | | 182 | 0.49 | |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 182 | 0.49 | +0.08 |
| | Bill and Ben | | | | | | 170 | 0.46 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 131 | 0.35 | +0.16 |
| | Kiwi | | | | | | 105 | 0.28 | |
| | Pacific | | | | | | 45 | 0.12 | |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 19 | 0.05 | +0.02 |
| | Workers Party | | | | | | 9 | 0.02 | |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | ±0.00 |
| | RAM | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | |
| | RONZ | | | | | | 4 | 0.01 | ±0.00 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 251 | | | 110 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 36,370 | | | 36,988 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,298 | 82.27 | -0.58 | | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 20,547 | 56.49 | | | | |

### 2011 election

General election, 2011: Helensville :
| 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 John Key | Y John Key | 26,011 | 74.38 | +0.77 | 23,558 | 65.79 | +2.09 |
| | Labour | Jeremy Greenbrook-Held | Jeremy Greenbrook-Held | 4,945 | 14.14 | -2.97 | 5,138 | 14.35 | -4.11 |
| | Green | Jeanette Elley | Jeanette Elley | 2,575 | 7.36 | +1.41 | 3,094 | 8.64 | +3.74 |
| | Conservative Party of New Zealand | Richard Drayson | Richard Drayson | 941 | 2.69 | +2.69 | 1,258 | 3.51 | +3.51 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Adrian McDermott | Adrian McDermott | 319 | 0.91 | +0.91 | 174 | 0.49 | +0.16 |
| | ACT | Nick Kearney | Nick Kearney | 180 | 0.51 | 0-1.72 | 499 | 1.39 | -5.31 |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 1,648 | 4.60 | +2.06 |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 186 | 0.52 | +0.03 |
| | United Future New Zealand | | | | | | 163 | 0.46 | -0.33 |
| | Mana | | | | | | 60 | 0.17 | +0.17 |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 19 | 0.05 | -0.004 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | +0.001 |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 4 | 0.01 | -0.04 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 574 | | | 198 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,971 | | | 35,809 | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 21,066 | 60.24 | +3.74 | | | |

### 2014 election

General election, 2014: Helensville :
| 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 John Key | Y John Key | 22,720 | 65.17 | −9.21 | 20,689 | 58.39 | −7.40 |
| | Green | Kennedy Graham | Kennedy Graham | 4,433 | 12.72 | +5.36 | 4,801 | 13.55 | +4.91 |
| | Labour | Corie Haddock | Corie Haddock | 4,425 | 12.69 | −1.45 | 4,430 | 12.50 | −1.85 |
| | Internet | Laila Harré | Laila Harré | 1,315 | 3.77 | +3.77 | | | |
| | Conservative Party of New Zealand | Deborah Dougherty | Deborah Dougherty | 963 | 2.76 | −0.07 | 1,692 | 4.78 | +1.27 |
| | Independent | Penny Bright | Penny Bright | 420 | 1.20 | +1.20 | | | |
| | ACT | Phelan Pirrie | Phelan Pirrie | 302 | 0.87 | +0.36 | 262 | 0.74 | −0.65 |
| | Independent | Brendan Whyte | Brendan Whyte | 74 | 0.21 | +0.21 | | | |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 2,608 | 7.36 | +2.76 |
| | Internet Mana | | | | | | 338 | 0.95 | +0.78 |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 192 | 0.54 | +0.02 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 161 | 0.45 | −0.04 |
| | United Future New Zealand | | | | | | 93 | 0.26 | −0.20 |
| | Ban 1080 | | | | | | 48 | 0.14 | +0.14 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 23 | 0.06 | +0.04 |
| | Independent Coalition | | | | | | 13 | 0.04 | +0.04 |
| | Civilian | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | +0.02 |
| | Focus | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | +0.01 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 208 | | | 73 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,860 | | | 35,434 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,507 | 82.29 | +5.65 | | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 18,287 | 52.46 | −7.78 | | | |