NZ Election 2026

Southland electorate

Southland covers much of the area between Otago and Southland, including the twins of Queenstown, Gore, and Alexandra. The electorate is held by National’s Joseph Mooney, who has held the electorate since its creation in 2020. He was re-elected in 2023 with a margin of 23,231 votes. National won the party vote with 48% of the vote, followed by Labour with 16%. The electorate is the most employed electorate in the country, with the most people in full time work of anywhere in the country.

Southland candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Jason Herrick

NZ First

Todd Stephenson

ACT Party

Bianca Beebe

Opportunity Party

Joseph Mooney

National Party

Peter McDonald

Labour Party

Jason Herrick

NZ First

Why I'm standing

I'm running because I care deeply about Southland and the people who call it home. I've spent my life working, raising a family, building businesses and being involved in our local communities. I've seen first-hand the challenges our rural and regional communities face. I want to take that practical experience to Parliament, listen to the people of Southland, stand up for our region and make sure our voice is heard loud and clear.

About me

I am not a career politician; I'm a grassroots Kiwi, that brings real-life experience to the table. We need more New Zealanders in Wellington that understand life's real pressures, and have experience in solution-focused outcomes, not ideological views based on predictions and modeling. We need people that understand how to manage budgets and can pivot when you need to. Doing what is right, not what's easy, no matter how hard the task.

My priorities

  1. Infrastructure: better roads, reliable energy and infrastructure that unlocks Southland's potential.
  2. Productive economy: back farmers, businesses and industry by cutting red tape and growing our economy.
  3. Listen to Southlanders, strengthen local communities and put local voices at the heart of decisions.

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.