Boundary changes shift the political landscape ahead of 2026
So long, Ōhāriu
The Representation Commission's final electorate boundary changes, released on Friday, confirmed much of what was proposed in March, including the major reshuffle across the Wellington region. Three electorates – Ōhāriu, Mana and Ōtaki – will become two: Kapiti and Kenepuru. The shake-up means Porirua is split down the middle, with its more affluent northern suburbs joining Kapiti and its southern, Labour-leaning communities forming part of Kenepuru.
In the capital, Wellington Central shifts north to take in Khandallah, Wadestown and Ngaio, while Rongotai extends to Brooklyn and Mount Cook. Hutt South gains Newlands, and Remutaka moves south into Epuni. Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor knew it was coming – he told The Post ahead of the announcement that he was resigned to his electorate 'disappearing in a puff of smoke over Mount Kaukau'. His Labour colleague, Mana's Barbara Edmonds, now inherits much of the territory and O'Connor said they'll make a decision together on who will run for the new Kenepuru electorate.
Balmoral: hell no, we won't go
The biggest surprise wasn't in Wellington but in Auckland, where the commission backtracked on a plan to move part of Balmoral into Mt Albert. After an orchestrated campaign – including 178 objections from just a handful of streets – the area will remain in David Seymour's Epsom electorate. As Hayden Donnell relays this morning in The Spinoff, submissions ranged from the parochial – 'We probably shop at the Dominion Rd Woolworths, walk up Mt Eden on a Saturday (not Mt Albert)' – to the political: 'I voted for David Seymour consistently and find it unpalatable that this right should be taken from me'. Some warned, incorrectly, that the change would affect grammar school zones.
The commission listened, and the Balmoralites 'will remain in the plush Act electorate of Epsom and not the grotty, Labour-infested nearby outpost of Mt Albert', Hayden writes. 'Finally … a win for wealthy Aucklanders.'
What's in a name?
Four electorate name changes were confirmed. As 1News reports, Rānui becomes Henderson, East Coast becomes East Cape, Wellington Central becomes Wellington North, and Rongotai becomes Wellington Bays. Not all MPs were thrilled. Green MP Julie Anne Genter lamented losing 'Rongotai' – which translates to 'sound of the sea' – saying 'It will always be Rongotai in my heart'. Wellington Central's Tamatha Paul called the lack of a te reo name for the new electorate 'a massive missed opportunity' and said the 'generic' Wellington North 'could be anywhere in the world'. She tells The Post this morning that she's launching a petition to have the two names restored.
Selwyn surges, Wigram shifts
In Canterbury, surging population growth in Selwyn district has reshaped both Selwyn and neighbouring Wigram. Around 11,000 voters in Prebbleton and Templeton move from Selwyn into Wigram, while Wigram loses left-leaning suburbs Addington and Spreydon to Christchurch Central. In March, Joel MacManus predicted the shift would push Wigram from leaning Labour to a 'genuine toss-up'; perhaps not coincidentally, Labour's Megan Woods, Wigram's current MP, announced she'll stand list-only in 2026. For National's Nicola Grigg, meanwhile, the redraw means she no longer lives in her Selwyn electorate, though she plans to recontest it.
See all the changes on the big map here.
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