NZ Election 2026

Tauranga electorate

Tauranga covers the majority of urban Tauranga while also stretching west to cover communities such as Minden and Te Puna, and also south into the Kaimai Ranges. The seat is held by National’s Sam Uffindell, who was first elected in a 2022 by-election, and was re-elected in 2023 with a margin of 18,980. National won the party vote in 2023 with 46%, followed by Labour on 18%. Between 1984 and 2002, the seat was held by current New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, first as a National MP before founding New Zealand First in 1993.

Tauranga candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Jan Tinetti

Labour Party

Michael Carter

Opportunity Party

Bryan Norton

ACT Party

Daniël Oosthuizen

Green Party

Sam Connely

Animal Justice Party

Sam Uffindell

National Party

Michael Carter

Opportunity Party

Why I'm standing

I am standing because I want to see a country that plans for the long term, one that invests in restoring our environment, builds resilient communities, and creates a New Zealand where people want to stay. We should recognise what makes our country unique and build on those strengths. Our natural environment is central to who we are, our economy relies on it, and it's what makes us proud to be Kiwi.

About me

My background in architecture has taught me to solve problems holistically and think long term. I don't just think about how a building works today, but how it will perform and adapt over the next 20–50 years. I believe Parliament needs more of that long-term thinking. I'm also passionate about cities and creating places that are sustainable, connected and designed around the people who live in them.

My priorities

  1. Healthy Oceans - restore & protect 30%, rebuild our fish stocks & phase out destructive fishing.
  2. Energy resilience, move away from fossil fuels and create a country that runs on electricity.
  3. Reduce congestion, build smarter around transport hubs and reduce our dependency on cars.

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.