NZ Election 2026

Selwyn electorate

Selwyn covers much of the rural area outside of Christchurch, including the towns of Rolleston, Lincoln, and Darfield. The seat is held by National’s Nicola Grigg, who was first elected in 2020 and won re-election in 2023 with a margin of 31,504. National won the party vote with 49%, followed by Labour with 18%. The electorate is one of the fastest growing in the country, having lost area to Christchurch following the last three electorate censuses. This had the effect of redistributing Grigg outside of her electorate in the 2025 electorate changes.

Selwyn candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Zoran Rakovic

Independent

Iain Murray

ACT Party

Elizabeth Mundt

NZ First

Jesse Luke

Alliance Party

Adrian Mee

Opportunity Party

Sunita Gautam

Labour Party

Alma de Anda

Green Party

Nicola Grigg

National Party

Alma de Anda

Green Party

Why I'm standing

I am a naturally curious person, with broad experience in zoology, ecology, and reproductive justice. I see our environment and people's wellbeing ignored by this government and I want to help change that. People deserve a representative government, not one that prioritizes profits over people. As a Kiwi-American, I also see U.S. politics and policies coming through in this government, which is a red flag and a threat to democracy.

About me

I have communicated complex topics with people in the community for decades as an educator. I earned a B.S in Zoology and a M.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, with a focus on monarch butterfly conservation and citizen-science research. I am a co-author of several academic papers and book chapters on monarch butterfly conservation. Additionally, I am the Co-President of Abortion Rights Aotearoa's (ALRANZ), which focuses on expanding healthcare access throughout the motu.

My priorities

  1. Advocate for housing development to be removed from the Fast-track process.
  2. Prioritise funding for public healthcare services so it is equitable and accessible for everyone.
  3. Restore Equal Pay agreements, removed by this government, and pay professionals what they are due.

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.