# Aoraki (New Zealand electorate)

Aoraki was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate that existed for four parliamentary terms from 1996 to 2008. It was held by Jim Sutton of the Labour Party for three terms, and the remaining term by Jo Goodhew of the National Party. It was located in the South Island, covering southern Canterbury and northern Otago. It was named after the mountain Aoraki / Mount Cook.

## Population centres

The 1996 election was notable for the significant change of electorate boundaries, based on the provisions of the Electoral Act 1993. Because of the introduction of the mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system, the number of electorates had to be reduced, leading to significant changes. More than half of the electorates contested in 1996 were newly constituted, and most of the remainder had seen significant boundary changes. In total, 73 electorates were abolished, 29 electorates were newly created (including Aoraki), and 10 electorates were recreated, giving a net loss of 34 electorates.

## History

The electorate of Aoraki was created for the 1996 election, as part of the major redistribution in the transition to MMP. It was effectively a merger of the old seats of Timaru and Waitaki, bringing the town of Timaru and its surrounding farmland together in one electorate.
The boundaries of Aoraki did not undergo any significant changes since the seat was created. However, in boundary changes for the 2008 general election, Aoraki ceased to exist, with the bulk of its population centres being transferred to a resurrected electorate named Rangitata. The southern part went to Waitaki.

### Election results

Key
Labour National
| Election | Winner |
| 1996 election | Jim Sutton |
| 1999 election | Jim Sutton |
| 2002 election | Jim Sutton |
| 2005 election | Jo Goodhew |
| (Electorate abolished in 2008; see Rangitata) |||

### List MPs

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Aoraki electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.
Key
Labour NZ First
| Election | Winner | Winner |
| 1996 election | | Jenny Bloxham |
| 2005 election | | Jim Sutton |

## Election results
### 2005 election

2005 general election: Aoraki :
| 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 | Jo Goodhew | Jo Goodhew | 18,252 | 54.03 | | 14,635 | 43.01 | |
| | Labour | N Jim Sutton | N Jim Sutton | 11,315 | 33.49 | | 13,596 | 39.96 | |
| | Green | Kate Elsen | Kate Elsen | 2,038 | 6.03 | | 1,524 | 4.48 | |
| | NZ First | Kerry Lundy | Kerry Lundy | 1,203 | 3.56 | | 2,048 | 6.02 | |
| | United Future | Mark Rogers | Mark Rogers | 340 | 1.01 | | 878 | 2.58 | |
| | Progressive | Claire Main | Claire Main | 320 | 0.95 | | 523 | 1.54 | |
| | ACT | Kevin Murray | Kevin Murray | 215 | 0.64 | | 398 | 1.17 | |
| | Direct Democracy | John Sullivan | John Sullivan | 99 | 0.29 | | 19 | 0.06 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 130 | 0.38 | |
| | Destiny | | | | | | 91 | 0.27 | |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 38 | 0.11 | |
| | Christian Heritage | | | | | | 31 | 0.09 | |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 30 | 0.09 | |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 24 | 0.07 | |
| | 99 MP | | | | | | 19 | 0.06 | |
| | Family Rights | | | | | | 13 | 0.04 | |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 6 | 0.02 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | |
| | RONZ | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 255 | | | 137 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 33,782 | | | 34,027 | | |
| | National gain from Labour | National gain from Labour | Majority | 6,937 | 20.39 | | | | |

### 2002 election

2002 general election: Aoraki :
| 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 Jim Sutton | Y Jim Sutton | 16,316 | 52.68 | | 13,950 | 44.56 | |
| | National | Wayne Marriott | Wayne Marriott | 9,863 | 31.84 | | 7,550 | 24.12 | |
| | Green | David Musgrave | David Musgrave | 1,327 | 4.28 | | 1,613 | 5.15 | |
| | United Future | Tony Bunting | Tony Bunting | 1,176 | 3.80 | | 1,879 | 6.00 | |
| | Christian Heritage | McGregor Simpson | McGregor Simpson | 616 | 1.99 | | 387 | 1.24 | |
| | ACT | Kevin Murray | Kevin Murray | 579 | 1.87 | | 1,377 | 4.40 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Christine Mitchell | Christine Mitchell | 453 | 1.46 | | 264 | 0.84 | |
| | Progressive | Lynley Simmons | Lynley Simmons | 446 | 1.44 | | 643 | 2.05 | |
| | Alliance | Andrew Buchanan | Andrew Buchanan | 197 | 0.64 | | 337 | 1.08 | |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 2,758 | 8.81 | |
| | ORNZ | | | | | | 521 | 1.66 | |
| | Mana Māori | | | | | | 11 | 0.04 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 10 | 0.03 | |
| | NMP | | | | | | 8 | 0.03 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 373 | | | 132 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 30,973 | | | 31,308 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 6,453 | 20.61 | | | | |

### 1999 election

1999 general election: Aoraki :
| 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 Jim Sutton | Y Jim Sutton | 17,415 | 51.48 | | 14,413 | | |
| | National | Wayne Marriott | Wayne Marriott | 10,276 | 30.38 | | 10,393 | | |
| | Alliance | Lynley Simmons | Lynley Simmons | 2,031 | 6.00 | | 2,881 | | |
| | Green | David Musgrave | David Musgrave | 1,061 | 3.14 | | 1,505 | | |
| | Christian Heritage | McGregor Simpson | McGregor Simpson | 1,023 | 3.02 | | 953 | | |
| | NZ First | Albert Gould | Albert Gould | 705 | 2.08 | | 992 | | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Christine Mitchell | Christine Mitchell | 659 | 1.95 | | 450 | | |
| | ACT | Dean Richardson | Dean Richardson | 657 | 1.94 | | 1,694 | | |
| | South Island | | | | | | 209 | | |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 139 | | |
| | United NZ | | | | | | 137 | | |
| | Christian Democrats | | | | | | 115 | | |
| | Animals First | | | | | | 66 | | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | | | | | | 35 | | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 17 | | |
| | Natural Law | | | | | | 7 | | |
| | People's Choice Party | | | | | | 5 | | |
| | Mana Māori | | | | | | 4 | | |
| | NMP | | | | | | 4 | | |
| | Republican | | | | | | 3 | | |
| | Freedom Movement | | | | | | 2 | | |
| | Mauri Pacific | | | | | | 1 | | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 511 | | | 313 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 33,827 | | | 34,025 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 7,139 | | | | | |

### 1996 election

1996 general election: Aoraki :
| 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 Jim Sutton | Y Jim Sutton | 13,538 | 41.02 | | 10,088 | 30.41 | |
| | National | Stuart Boag | Stuart Boag | 10,606 | 32.14 | | 10,861 | 32.75 | |
| | NZ First | Jenny Bloxham | Jenny Bloxham | 4,595 | 13.92 | | 3,802 | 11.46 | |
| | Alliance | Rex Verity | Rex Verity | 3,021 | 9.15 | | 4,491 | 13.54 | |
| | Christian Coalition | Robin Donovan | Robin Donovan | 635 | 1.92 | | 1,211 | 3.65 | |
| | ACT | Alan Cone | Alan Cone | 531 | 1.61 | | 1,677 | 5.06 | |
| | Natural Law | Royal van der Werf | Royal van der Werf | 75 | 0.23 | | 25 | 0.08 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 615 | 1.85 | |
| | United NZ | | | | | | 184 | 0.55 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | | | | | | 85 | 0.26 | |
| | Animals First | | | | | | 42 | 0.13 | |
| | Progressive Green | | | | | | 40 | 0.12 | |
| | Green Society | | | | | | 17 | 0.05 | |
| | Superannuitants & Youth | | | | | | 12 | 0.04 | |
| | Advance New Zealand | | | | | | 6 | 0.02 | |
| | Conservatives | | | | | | 6 | 0.02 | |
| | Ethnic Minority Party | | | | | | 3 | 0.01 | |
| | Mana Māori | | | | | | 2 | 0.01 | |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 1 | 0.00 | |
| | Asia Pacific United | | | | | | 0 | 0.00 | |
| | Te Tawharau | | | | | | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 288 | | | 121 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 33,001 | | | 33,168 | | |
| | Labour win new seat | Labour win new seat | Majority | 2,932 | 8.84 | | | | |