Wellington is set to lose an electorate as a result of boundary changes proposed by the independent Representation Commission.
The Ōhāriu, Mana and Ōtaki seats are set to be removed with two new electorates named Kenepuru and Kapiti created instead.
This affects Labour’s Greg O’Connor who is the MP for Ōhāriu, Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds, MP for Mana, and National MP for Ōtaki Tim Costley.
The proposed changes come as a result of the commission’s review into the electorate boundary changes, which are assessed after each census.
“Our review is driven by population numbers and the need to ensure each electorate has about the same number of people living in it,” says Judge Kevin Kelly, chair of the commission.
Kelly said the populations of all the current electorates in the lower North Island are below the target quota, hence the removal of a seat in Wellington.
“This change, coupled with some significant population changes elsewhere, has resulted in relatively substantial shifts in most electorate boundaries in the North Island, and particularly in the lower North Island and the Auckland region.”
The commission said more than 730,000 people would be affected by the proposed North Island general electorate changes, nearly 30,000 in South Island general electorates, and 3,300 in Māori electorates.
The number of electorates in the South Island stays the same – fixed by law at 16 seats.
New names in West Auckland
Meanwhile, in West Auckland some electorates are proposed to be renamed.
New Lynn, Kelston and Te Atatū are proposed to be reconfigured into Waitākere, Glendene and Rānui.
These are currently the electorates for National’s Paulo Garcia, Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni and Labour’s Phil Twyford.
In southeast Auckland, the boundaries of Panmure-Ōtāhuhu move south and the electorate is renamed Ōtāhuhu. This seat is currently held by Labour’s Jenny Salesa and is a safe seat for the party.
Epsom, which it had been suggested could be a casualty of the boundary changes, will remain but will incorporate some of what had previously been Auckland Central and Maungakiekie’s boundaries.
The Tauranga and Bay of Plenty electorates are also proposed to be reconfigured, with Tauranga in the west and Bay of Plenty in the east.
Bay of Plenty is renamed Mt Maunganui to better reflect the change.
Tauranga is held by Sam Uffindell and Bay of Plenty by Tom Rutherford – both been safe National seats.
Christchurch electorates rejigged
In the South Island, Selwyn is one of the fastest growing electorates in the country and adjustments have been made so that other Christchurch electorates take in more population.
While there’s a small change in the Māori electorates, an adjustment is proposed to the boundary between Ikaroa-Rāwhiti and Te Tai Tonga in Lower Hutt.
There are no changes proposed for the other five Māori electorates.
The public can make submissions on the proposed boundaries, visible on the Electoral Commission’s website here, until April 27.
Counter objections can be made from May 8 until May 21. Public hearings will be held between June 9 and June 18.
The final electorate boundaries will be released on August 8.
