NZ Election 2023

Hamilton West electorate

Hamilton West covers the inner city and suburbs west of the Waikato River, running from Te Rapa Park in the north to Fitzroy and Glenview in the south. The seat is currently held by National's Tama Potaka, who won comfortably with a margin of 2,433 in a 2022 by-election following the resignation of Gaurav Sharma. In 2020, Labour won the greatest share of party votes in Hamilton West – 52% to National's 25%. Since the seat was created in 1969 the party which has won Hamilton West has also won the most votes nationwide in all but one election.

Hamilton West candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Tama Potaka

National Party

Rudi du Plooy

Vision NZ

Kevin Stone

NZ First

Benjamin Doyle

Green Party

Myra Williamson

Labour Party

Naomi Pocock

The Opportunities Party (TOP)

Susan Stevenson

ACT Party

Melanie Wilson

Animal Justice Party

Myra Williamson

Labour Party

Not currently in parliament

Why I'm standing

I'm a local. I want Hamilton West to be the best place in New Zealand to grow up, grow old, open a business, and raise a family. I was born and raised here. My parents lived here for over 50 years. I believe in the people of my city. I want to secure a better future for all of us. Hamilton deserves a strong MP who is from Hamilton, working for Hamilton.

About me

I was born and raised here: Jamieson Kindy, Forest Lake, Maeroa Intermediate, and Fraser High. I went to Otago University; studied law and politics, then came back here to practice law. I hold a BA, an LLB Hons (First), an LLM Hons (First), and a PhD (international law). I taught law at the University of Waikato. I've been in business here. I'm a renter and a mum, and I'll be a strong voice for Hamilton West.

My priorities

  1. Fix the cost of living - removing GST from fruit & veggies, addressing banks' excessive profits.
  2. Solve housing issues faced by renters, pensioners, and young families - making housing affordable.
  3. Free dental for under-thirties then for everyone. Dental care is part of health. More funding for health.

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.