Election 2023: Waimakariri, the electorate with NZ’s highest proportion of homeowners (Waimakariri electorate profile)
In the lead-up to the 2023 general election, The Press is profiling Canterbury’s electoral races. Here’s what you need to know about the candidates running to be Waimakariri’s MP. (By reporter Keiller MacDuff).
The relatively young electorate of Waimakariri was created in 1996 ahead of the first MMP electorate from parts of the old Rangiora and Christchurch North electorates, and includes the rural towns of Oxford, Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Pegasus.
Former Labour Prime Minister Mike Moore represented the area three times - first when it was the Papanui electorate from 1978-81, then Christchurch North from 1984-87, and finally Waimakariri from 1996-99.
He was succeeded by Labour’s Clayton Cosgrove, the longest-serving Waimakariri MP, who lost the seat in 2011 to National’s Kate Wilkinson, the first and only woman to represent Waimakariri, from 2011 to 2014.
National party MP Matt Doocey won the electorate in 2014, and has held it ever since.
In the 2014 boundary review, Waimakariri lost much of Redwood to Christchurch Central and Marshland to the Christchurch East electorate.
The red tide of 2020 saw the Waimakariri party vote join the swing to Labour. In 2017, the National Party won 53% of the party vote, compared to Labour’s 32%. Three years later, Labour took 49% to National’s 28%.
Sitting MP Doocey is National’s senior whip, the South Island’s top-ranked National MP (#8 on the list), party spokesperson on youth, mental health and suicide prevention, and associate health spokesperson.
Labour MP Dan Rosewarne (#32 on his party’s list) entered Parliament in June 2022, following the resignation of Kris Faafoi.
The former army officer who lives in Woodend lost to Doocey in 2020 by one of the smallest margins in the country (1507 votes).
ACT’s candidate Ross Campbell (#43 on the the party list) lives in Rangiora and is pledging to “help the people in my little piece of the world”.
Deputy leader of Democracy NZ Gordon Malcolm, the anti-mandate party formed by ex-National Party MP Matt King, is promising to open an inquiry into the Waimakariri District Council’s property purchases, reject co-governance, and stand up to “climate change hysteria”.
Former leader of the New Conservative party Leighton Baker is making his sixth attempt for an electorate, albeit with a brand new party, the eponymous Leighton Baker Party.
Turnout in 2020 was 87.5% - compared to national enrolled voter turnout of 81.5%.
The Waimakariri district’s population has passed 66,000 and is on track to top 78,000 by 2031.
An influx of residents following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes saw rapid growth in the past decade.
One of the most monocultural electorates in New Zealand - second only to Rodney in the proportion of European residents (91.2%) - Māori (8.7%) and Asian (4.5%) populations are about half and one-third the national averages respectively, and it has the second lowest Pasifika population (1.5%) in the country.
Waimakariri has the highest proportion of homeowners in New Zealand, with nearly two-thirds (65.8%) of households in the electorate owning or partly owning their own home.
The three major employing industries are construction (14.3%), manufacturing (11.5%) and retail (10.6%).
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16% Hmm, maybe?
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11% Yes!
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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90.1% Yes
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9.9% No
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
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