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395 days ago

Election 2023: Waimakariri, the electorate with NZ’s highest proportion of homeowners (Waimakariri electorate profile)

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

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%).

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More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

While it is a fun occasion, fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night has caused much conflict over the years, upsetting our pets and disrupting the sleep of neighbours.

How should we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?
  • 28.6% With a city-wide public fireworks display
    28.6% Complete
  • 19.6% Small fireworks displays in each community
    19.6% Complete
  • 8% Keep it as is
    8% Complete
  • 32.9% We shouldn't celebrate it!
    32.9% Complete
  • 10.4% Anything but fireworks
    10.4% Complete
  • 0.4% Other - I'll share below
    0.4% Complete
2201 votes
4 hours ago

True Story

Melissa from Emergency Cards Limited

Trevor, who often travels around the South Island for work was on this day just recently, driving on a remote country road when he was in a serious car accident, rolling his vehicle four times.

Thankfully, help arrived, and Emergency Services rushed him to the nearest hospital.

Yet it was over two hours later until the hospital was able to find out who Trevor's wife was to contact her. More than three hours after his accident!

With Emergency Cards and Tags, first responders not only have instant access to any crucial medical details, but they also allow loved ones to be notified much faster.

When every minute counts, give the gift of peace of mind to each other, in that in the event of an accident or medical event, your loved ones can be contacted without delay.

Trevor and his wife now have Emergency Cards and Tags, for themselves, and for each other.

Order your Emergency Card and Tag today.
www.emergencycards.co.nz...

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12 hours ago

Brain Burn Alert! Today’s Riddle Will Make You Think Twice!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What is seen in the middle of March and April that can't be seen at the beginning or end of either month?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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