NZ Election 2026

Napier electorate

Napier covers much of the land surrounding the Ngaruroro River and Wairoa district, including the towns of Napier, Wairoa, and Mahia. The electorate is held by National’s Katie Nimon, who was first elected in 2023 with a margin of 21,344 votes. National also won the party vote with 41% of the vote, followed by Labour with 26%. The electorate’s very first MP, Henry Powning Stark, holds the record for the shortest time in parliament: he was elected on 19 February 1861 and resigned on 27 April 1861, lasting 67 days.

Napier candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Roy Boonen

Green Party

Te Kira Lawrence

NZ First

Alex Hedley

Labour Party

Katie Nimon

National Party

John Ormond

ACT Party

Katie Nimon

National Party

Why I'm standing

I'm optimistic about our region's future and want to help shape it. I want to ensure Napier, Wairoa, and Gisborne continue to be great places to live, work and raise a family. That means supporting economic growth, improving opportunities for young people, and addressing the challenges facing our communities. I believe in National's vision of fixing the basics and building the future, while delivering practical results that help local families and businesses get ahead.

About me

I've built strong relationships across our region by listening to people, understanding their concerns, and working hard to get results. As a local MP, I'm committed to being accessible, responsive, and focused on practical solutions that improve everyday life. I believe in personal responsibility, opportunity, and strong communities. I'll continue to be a strong advocate for our region in Parliament, ensuring local voices are heard and delivering outcomes that help families, businesses, and communities thrive.

My priorities

  1. Creating global opportunities, locally: growing jobs, and helping our region get ahead and thrive.
  2. Future-proofing our roads, hospital, schools, and energy production to keep Hawke's Bay moving.
  3. Ensuring families can access healthcare sooner, and a world-class education for their children.

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.