NZ Election 2023

Auckland Central electorate

Auckland Central covers the Auckland city centre, inner western suburbs and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The electorate is currently held by the Green's Chlöe Swarbrick, who won by a narrow margin of 1,068 – one of the smallest margins in the country. In 2020, Labour won the greatest share of party votes in Auckland Central – 46% to National's 21%. Labour held the seat for all but three years between 1919 and 2008.

Auckland Central candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Mahesh Muralidhar

National Party

Guy Slocum

New Nation Party

Paul Davie

Rock the Vote NZ

Oscar Sims

Labour Party

Madeleine Kane

Animal Justice Party

Christopher Coker

Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

Chlöe Swarbrick

Green Party

Damian Sycamore

The Opportunities Party (TOP)

Felix Poole

ACT Party

Andi Shen Liu

Independent

Andi Shen Liu

Independent

Not currently in parliament

Why I'm standing

I believe that political parties, and the non-STV voting system, leads to a formation of duopoly voting blocs and disappointing low-hanging attempts to capture the 51% in the most conservative way possible. The application of branding logic in parties, biases party recruitment and party policies and funnels them down to meet certain expectations of being on brand with the party colours. Does it have to be either a black cat or a white cat?

About me

Lived experience of city centre problems. In 10+ years in city centre, never once had I felt so let down by non-local decision making as in 2020. Wharf fishing ban while minister mountain-biked, bullet hole in the building's main door, numerous mail thefts including flea powder during a lockdown, naked lady jumping out of moving car, 'keep sending police reports so we can get more support'. I remember, and solve problems with rigour and creativity.

My priorities

  1. Vote-method (e.g. STV) referendum, so fear of wasted votes no longer aids duopoly formation.
  2. Get policymakers to have kai and kōrero more often in public spaces, and actively co-design policy.
  3. Less time/energy sinking ways of reporting/tracking local community problems, e.g. public 'Trello's.

Get across the policies, candidates and parties

Don’t know who to vote for? Policy.nz is the complete guide to the 2023 general election. Compare the parties, candidates and policies to see where you stand.

Policies

Compare the parties’ positions on the key issues this election

Candidates

See the electorate candidates running in your local area

Parties

Learn about each political party, its leaders and candidate list

Things to know...

Your two votes shape New Zealand’s next parliament. You need to be enrolled to vote.

Read explainer

  • Enrol to vote by Sunday 25 October

    You need to be enrolled before you can vote. You can enrol online at vote.nz.

  • Voting day is Saturday 7 November

    Head to your nearest voting place on the day, or vote early from 26 October.

  • You get two votes

    One for a party (the party vote) and one for a person in your area (the electorate vote).

  • Your party vote is the most powerful

    It decides how many seats each party gets in Parliament. That’s what Policy helps you figure out.