NZ Election 2023

Nelson electorate

Nelson is currently held by Labour's Rachel Boyack, who won comfortably with a margin of 4,525. In 2020, Labour won the greatest share of party votes in Nelson – 54% to National's 21%. Nelson is the only electorate that has existed continuously since New Zealand's first parliament in 1854.

Nelson candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Jace Hobbs

Green Party

Bruce Dyer

Progressive Aotearoa New Zealand

Chris Baillie

ACT Party

Peter Vaughan

New Zealand Loyal

Blair Cameron

National Party

Rachel Boyack

Labour Party

Bruce Dyer

Progressive Aotearoa New Zealand

Not currently in parliament

Why I'm standing

Our New Zealand society is distressed. Kids are doing ram raids, we have a high prison population and 28% of children living in poverty and unacceptable housing conditions, high youth suicide rates and 7,500 endangered native birds and animals, not to mention our distressing inequality – all reflect the need for social transformation. I believe the ethically-based and holistic perspective I bring will help bring about that transformation. That's why I'm running.

About me

I've lived in the Nelson region since the 1970s. I am a good organiser & manager. I have a masters degree that studied Nelson becoming more self-reliant. I've organised three nation-wide conferences and had a Churchill Fellowship to study the habilitation of offenders. For 24 years I managed Nelson's Enterprise Loan Trust that made 298 loans and closed with all investments fully repaid. I am passionate about changing our materialist system to one that's holistic

My priorities

  1. Actively respond to the needs of Nelsonians as well as honouring our policies.
  2. Help establish a cooperative supermarket with customers being members and sharing in profits.
  3. Seek to have access to healthcare, food, clothing, education and housing guaranteed.

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.