NZ Election 2026

Hutt South electorate

Hutt South covers much of the Lower Hutt region of Wellington, including the suburbs of Gracefield, Waterloo, Eastbourne, and Newlands. It is currently held by National’s Chris Bishop, who won election in 2023 with a margin of 14,772 votes, and who was also the electorate MP from 2017-2020, and being a list MP from 2014. In 2023, the party vote was close, with National winning 34% followed by Labour with 32%. Bishop is only the third-ever MP for Hutt South; his 2017 predecessor Trevor Mallard held it for 21 years before him.

Hutt South candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Chris Bishop

National Party

Benjamin Wylie-van Eerd

Opportunity Party

Courtney White

Green Party

Alistair Boyce

NZ First

Ginny Andersen

Labour Party

Benjamin Wylie-van Eerd

Opportunity Party

Why I'm standing

Over my adult lifetime I've seen New Zealand become a place that's harder and harder to make a decent living in. Home ownership rates are dropping, wages aren't keeping up with costs, and there's little time left over for family and community after the work is done and the bills are paid. I couldn't stand on the sidelines and just watch; I felt I needed to step up and try to make a positive difference.

About me

I'm here to make a difference, not to fill a seat. I'm serious about facing up to our country's challenges. I'm highly respectful of evidence in making tough decisions. I care deeply about the people of our community and our country, and I have the integrity to speak plainly.

My priorities

  1. Increase funding for R&D to raise our productivity and make us more competitive with the world.
  2. Build more housing to lower the cost for young people so they don't feel they have to leave.
  3. Build abundant renewable energy to lower the cost of energy and help us reduce fossil fuel use.

Get across the policies, candidates and parties

Don’t know who to vote for? Policy.nz is the complete guide to the 2026 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.