Waikato electorate
Waikato covers much of the area between Tauranga and Hamilton, including communities such as Morrinsville, Matamata, and Huntly. The seat is held by National’s Tim van de Molen, who was first elected in 2017 and was re-elected in 2023 with a margin of 27,335. National won the party vote in 2023 with 50%, followed by Labour on 18%. The seat boasted the odd distinction of being the birthplace of both 2020 Labour and National leaders Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins, though neither ran in the electorate.
Waikato candidates
Explore the candidates in your area
Jamie Toko
Why I'm standing
Rural communities matter to me. Everyone deserves a voice.
About me
My parents eloped to Waitoa back in the late 1940s, raising 13 children. My father worked at the dairy factory. We moved to Hamilton in the 60s and grew up attending Catholic schools.
My priorities
- Be a voice for rural communities.
- Ensure there is access to health and essential providers.
- Employment opportunities, education and affordable housing.
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 explainerEnrol 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.
