NZ Election 2026

Whangārei electorate

Surrounded entirely by the Northland electorate, Whangārei forms an alcove around the city of Whangārei and its harbour, and while also stretching south to Waipū and Langs Beach and north to Whangaruru harbour. The seat is held by National’s Shane Reti, who won the electorate back from Labour in 2023 after previously representing it between 2014 and 2020. He is retiring in 2026, after winning election in 2023 with a margin of 20,843. National won the party vote in 2023 with 38%, while Labour came second with 22%. The electorate has the highest proportion of health care and social assistance workers in the country.

Whangārei candidates

Explore the candidates in your area

Vince Cocurullo

NZ First

Lloyd Budd

National Party

Simon DellaBarca

Opportunity Party

Gary Payinda

Labour Party

Doug Graham

ACT Party

Simon DellaBarca

Opportunity Party

Why I'm standing

I'm motivated by the legacy we're leaving for our young people. Opportunity has consistently focused on the future of work and the effect of automation, and that forward-looking approach is why I'm standing. We need evidence-based policy that helps with affordable housing, a long-term plan for Health and Education, while protecting the Environment.

About me

I'm standing as a candidate and asking voters to party vote Opportunity. I'm here to try and raise the profile of the party locally by first listening to voters' concerns and to see if our policies can help.

My priorities

  1. Healthy Oceans policy! I'm a surfer & I'd like see protection for the ocean & fisheries.
  2. Abundant Energy, Reduce reliance on imported energy, lowering energy costs & creating regional jobs.
  3. Clean up politics, Democracy works when policy serves people, not industry groups & the very wealthy.

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.