Kaikōura electorate
Kaikōura covers the Northeast section of the South Island, including the towns of Blenheim, Hanmer Springs, and Goose Bay. The electorate is currently held by National’s Stuart Smith, who first won the seat in 2014 and was re-elected with a margin of 20,741 votes. National also won the party vote with 41%, while Labour was in second with 21%. This electorate has only ever been won by National.
Kaikōura candidates
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Ted Howard
Why I'm standing
Because we are the time of greatest change and greatest risk in the history of our species. The economic system that arguably served us well for most of the last 300 years fails in the presence of advance automation and AI. We have a small window left to make the sort of changes that will ensure that the system serves humanity, rather than we become enslaved to the system.
About me
I understand something of the difficulties of business, having grown up on farms, started a fishing business, then started a software business that I have run for 40 years. I have demonstrated commitment to serving my community, and life more widely, as Kaikoura district councillor, over 20 years in Lions, as chair of the Hutton's Shearwater charitable trust, and in many other roles (including appointment as a Kaikoura Marine Guardian).
My priorities
- Provide no interest funding of community owned infrastructure, because the risks are increasing
- Promote fundamental reform of the global economic system
- Ensuring AI, and the systems they produce, serve the people and environment, and not enslave them.
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 explainerEnrol 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.
