NZ Election 2026

Wairarapa electorate

Wairarapa covers the south-eastern corner of the North Island, stretching from Waipawa and Waipukurau in the North to Masterton, Martinborough, and Lake Ōnonke in the south. The seat is held by National’s Mike Butterick, who was first elected in 2023 with a margin of 20,313. National won the party vote in 2023 with 39%, followed by Labour with 27%. Between 1999 and 2005, Georgina Beyer, New Zealand’s first transgender MP, held the seat.

Wairarapa candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Kieran McAnulty

Labour Party

Victoria Ale

Alliance Party

Matt Shepherd

Opportunity Party

Lauren Craig

Green Party

Ron Mark

NZ First

Mike Butterick

National Party

Jared Warren GARDNER

Te Pāti Hira

Barry Young

NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party

Victoria Ale

Alliance Party

Why I'm standing

Truth be told, I am running in this election because I was made redundant in August this year, this would be my third redundancy in 7 years, I have dedicated my life and career moving fuel products and freight containers around our coastal waters, providing a service that helps keep communities and our country connected in times of weather disaster and the country lock-down. Like many industries, our New Zealand coastal shipping Industry also cease-to-exist.

About me

To be really honest, I don't know if I would be a good candidate. As strange as some maybe thinking right now reading this. But what I do know is that I have great leadership skills and I am passionate but more importantly I will fight tooth and nail to ensure our workers, our industries and our communities have a secured future for the long term.

My priorities

  1. Rrestoring coastal shipping - Resiliance
  2. Balance in employment relations - secure jobs
  3. Rebuilding transport infrastructure - freight rail, coastal shipping, and ports

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.