NZ Election 2026

Nelson electorate

Nelson covers the area around the city of Nelson, splitting the Tasman region with the West Coast electorate. Alongside the city of Nelson, the electorate also covers the towns of Richmond, Hope, and Cable Bay. The seat is held by Labour’s Rachel Boyack, who was first elected in 2020 and narrowly won re-election by 26 votes in 2023, with a total of 17,541. National won the party vote with 32%, followed by Labour on 29%. The electorate is the only one which has existed continuously in every election since New Zealand’s first parliamentary election in 1851.

Nelson candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Jodie Kuntzsch

Opportunity Party

Chris Baillie

ACT Party

Rohan O'Neill-Stevens

Green Party

Rachel Boyack

Labour Party

Blair Cameron

National Party

Bruce Dyer

Progressive Aotearoa New Zealand

Jodie Kuntzsch

Opportunity Party

Why I'm standing

I stepped into politics because I want a future where Kiwi kids look back and say, 'They did right by us'.

About me

As a mum, an immigrant and an entrepreneur, I know what it means to work hard, take a chance, and build something from the ground up. I've learned how to bring people together, listen properly, and find a way forward when people don't always agree. I care deeply about our community, and I would bring that same energy to Parliament — working hard, staying grounded, and making sure people here are heard and represented well.

My priorities

  1. Improve trust in politics because people deserve fair, transparent decisions they can believe in.
  2. Back regional communities because local strengths can drive both resilience and productivity.
  3. Strengthen our natural resilience because our identity and economy depend on a healthy environment.

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.