NZ Election 2026

Palmerston North electorate

Palmerston North covers urban Palmerston North and a few outlying settlements such as Bunnythorpe, Turitea and Longburn. The seat is held by Labour’s Tangi Utikere, who was first elected in 2020 and was reelected in 2023 with a margin of 43%. National won the party vote with 34%, followed by Labour on 31%. The electorate boasts the highest percentage of New Zealand sign language speakers in the country out of any electorate.

Palmerston North candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Tangi Utikere

Labour Party

Bruce McGechan

ACT Party

Netra Ghimire

Opportunity Party

Teanau Tuiono

Green Party

Brian Baker

Animal Justice Party

Ankit Bansal

National Party

Helma Vermuelen

NZ First

Tangi Utikere

Labour Party

Why I'm standing

I'm running for re-election as our local MP to continue advocating for the place I'm very proud to call my home. Palmerston North is a community that has shaped me, supported me, and given me much. I want to keep being a strong voice for local people, standing up for our city's interests, and helping create opportunities that allow our community and country to thrive.

About me

I'm approachable, hardworking, and deeply committed to the community I'm proud to call home. I listen to people, understand the issues that matter to them, and work constructively to get results. I'm happy to stand on my track record as a strong and effective advocate for our community, working hard to ensure local voices are heard and local priorities are advanced. I'm committed to fairness, opportunity, and delivering positive outcomes for the people I represent.

My priorities

  1. Improve access to healthcare so local families can get care closer to home.
  2. Advocate for investment in infrastructure to create jobs and support our growing city and region.
  3. Champion access to affordable housing so local families can find a place to call home.

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.