NZ Election 2026

Rangitata electorate

Rangitata covers much of the South Canterbury region south of the Rakaia river, including towns such as Ashburton, Timaru, and Methven. The seat is currently held by National’s James Meager, who was first elected with a margin of 22,792 votes in 2023. National won the party vote in 2023 with 44.9%, followed by Labour with 26%. The electorate works long hours, with 15.2% of the electorate’s population working between 50 and 59 hours a week - the highest percentage in New Zealand.

Rangitata candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Isaac Nicholson

NZ First

Aaron Allred

ACT Party

James Meager

National Party

Matt Harris

Opportunity Party

Sange Malama

Labour Party

Dave Richards

Green Party

Karl Thomas

Conservative Party NZ

Kevin McCracken

NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party

Aaron Allred

ACT Party

Why I'm standing

I am running for ACT because I wish to help grow its party vote to ensure as many people with the values and principles that they stand for are elected into the next government. This is important because they are the one party whose fundamental base values of personal freedom, equal rights and personal responsibility (you are responsible for your life, not the government) resonate with me.

About me

As a chartered accountant I deal with people, their financial issues, and the compliance costs on a daily basis. I have seen the effect increased regulation has been causing including increased financial costs, and the time it is taking to just continue doing the same business. I'd like to be effective in changing some of that so that people can get on with their life. Live in the freedom and the prosperity that they deserve.

My priorities

  1. Improve Road funding - ensure the user charges we pay locally are used locally. Remove barriers.
  2. Medical Care - Help reduce wait times by allowing Pharmacists to do more. Pharmac Funding - access.
  3. Environment - Work with Hunters to help control pests. Ensure DOC is focused on its own job.

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.