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The Representation Commission has received 636 objections to the proposed electorate boundaries and names for the next general election.

The objections, along with maps of the proposed electorates, can be viewed online at vote.nz. 

“We are entering the next stage of public consultation on the boundary review. People can respond to the objections by making a written counter-objection from 8 to 21 May at vote.nz, and there will be public hearings in June,” says Judge Kevin Kelly, Chair of the Representation Commission.

“We’ll look at all the submissions before finalising the electorate boundaries and names in August,” says Judge Kelly.

The objections relate to 40 North Island general electorates, 11 South Island general electorates and two Māori electorates. Most of the objections are about the proposed boundaries (574) and a smaller number relate to the name of an electorate (42), or both the boundary and name (20).

Proposed electorates with the most objections (number of objections in brackets)

• Mount Albert (178) – most objections are about a proposed change to the Mt Albert boundary to include an area of Balmoral currently in the Epsom electorate.
• Wairarapa (105) – most objections are to redrawing the boundary between Wairarapa and Rangitīkei, moving the community of Ashhurst into the Wairarapa electorate.
• Hutt South (71) – nearly all the objections relate to moving Newlands and Woodridge into Hutt South from the current Ōhāriu electorate.
• Wigram (37) – there are a range of objections from Templeton and Prebbleton residents who would like their communities to remain in the Selwyn electorate.
• Kenepuru (21) – objections include the proposed boundary at Porirua and the inclusion of Johnsonville in Kenepuru rather than Wellington Central.
• Epsom (21) – some submitters oppose the proposed Epsom electorate taking in Greenlane from the current Maungakiekie electorate.
• Rotorua (21) – most objections relate to the addition of the southern Tauranga suburbs to the Rotorua electorate.
• Wellington Central (16) – most objections are about the addition of an area between Abel Smith St and Webb St to the Rongotai electorate.
• Glendene (13) – objections include alternative name suggestions for the electorate of Whau, Te Atatū or Te Atatū-Glendene.
• Ōtāhuhu (13) – objections are mainly about the redrawing of boundaries around the Ormiston and Flat Bush areas.
• Christchurch Central (13) – most objections are about the changes proposed around Addington and Spreydon which are currently in the Wigram electorate.

Notes for the media
The Representation Commission is the independent body responsible for reviewing and adjusting electorate boundaries. Go to vote.nz/boundary-review for more information.
The Electoral Commission, Land Information New Zealand and Stats NZ provide administrative support to the Representation Commission.