Remutaka
Single-member constituency
for the New Zealand House of Representatives
Outline map
Location of Remutakawithin Wellington
RegionWellington
Current constituency
Current MPChris Hipkins
PartyLabour

Remutaka (spelled Rimutaka until 2020) is an electorate returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. Since the 2008 general election, the seat has been represented by Chris Hipkins, who served as Prime Minister of New Zealand and is currently the Leader of the Opposition.[1]

Profile

Centred on Upper Hutt City, and bisected by State Highway 2 and the Hutt River, the Remutaka electorate stretches from the Lower Hutt suburbs of Avalon and Naenae in the south, via Taitā, Stokes Valley, and Manor Park, through Silverstream, Trentham, and Upper Hutt Central, to Akatarawa, Te Mārua, and Kaitoke in the north.[2]

Of those employed at the 2018 census, 13.7% were clerical and administrative workers (the highest proportion of any general electorate), 11.3% were community and personal service workers (the sixth-highest), and 11.3% worked in the public administration and safety sector (the third-highest share). The main means of travel to work for 12.5% of the employed population of Remutaka was by train, the third-highest share among general electorates and over six times the New Zealand average (2.0%).[2]

History

Rimutaka was created in 1996 ahead of the change to Mixed Member Proportional voting. It was created by merging the old Upper Hutt-based seat of Heretaunga with Stokes Valley, Taitā and a large section of Naenae from the defunct Eastern Hutt seat. Eastern Hutt had been held by Labour's Paul Swain since 1990, while Heretaunga had been won by National's Peter McCardle in 1990. Peter McCardle (who had been re-elected in 1993) defected to New Zealand First in 1996. Swain was the clear winner in every election from 1996 to 2005; the inclusion of the working-class areas of Hutt City helped make Rimutaka safer for the Labour Party, though on the campaign trail in 2008, Labour's chances for winning both party vote and the electorate were summarised as: "Labour support is 'rock solid' in the south of the electorate but things are volatile in Upper Hutt, where there is 'still work to do'".[3]

Following the 2014 boundary review, Rimutaka gained Naenae and a small part of Epuni from the Hutt South electorate and lost Kelson and Belmont to Hutt South.

Following the 2016 Treaty of Waitangi settlement between the Crown and Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui-ā-Rua, the electorate's namesake Rimutaka Range was renamed to the Remutaka Range. In the 2019/2020 boundary review, the Representation Commission renamed the electorate Remutaka in line with this name change.[4][5]

Members of Parliament

Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Key

  Labour   NZ First

Election Winner
1996 election Paul Swain
1999 election
2002 election
2005 election
2008 election Chris Hipkins
2011 election
2014 election
2017 election
2020 election
2023 election

List MPs

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Rimutaka electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Election Winner
1996 election Peter McCardle1

1 McCardle was the National MP for Heretaunga from 1990 to 1996

Election results

2023 election

2023 general election: Remutaka[6]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Chris Hipkins 22,344 53.58 -14.99 16,000 36.84 -21.53
National Emma Chatterton 13,485 32.34 +11.88 12,726 29.30 +10.25
Green Chris Norton 2,794 6.70 +2.92 5,068 11.66 +4.51
ACT Michael Hurle 1,261 3.02 +0.79 2,476 5.70 +0.30
NewZeal Tony Pitiroi 899 2.15 +0.74 500 1.15 +0.09
Vision New Zealand Heker Robertson 409 0.98 —
NZ First   2,441 5.62 +2.64
Opportunities   1,147 2.64 +0.75
Te Pāti Māori   511 1.17 +0.78
New Zealand Loyal   261 0.60 —
Legalise Cannabis   177 0.40 +.010
Freedoms NZ   147 0.33 —
Animal Justice   96 0.22 —
New Conservative   71 0.16 -1.73
DemocracyNZ   55 0.12 —
Women's Rights   35 0.08 —
Leighton Baker Party   13 0.02 —
New Nation   12 0.02 —
Informal votes 504 410
Total valid votes 41,696 42,146
Labour hold Majority 8,859 21.24

2020 election

2020 general election: Remutaka[7]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Chris Hipkins 29,217 68.57 +13.08 25,347 58.37 +15.07
National Mark Crofskey 8,720 20.46 −13.04 8,274 19.05 −19.84
Green Chris Norton 1,610 3.78 −0.86 3,105 7.15 +1.72
ACT Grae O'Sullivan 952 2.23 +1.75 2,607 6.00 +5.63
NZ First Talani Meikle 635 1.49 −2.61 1,296 2.98 −4.42
New Conservative Hank Optland 618 1.45 +0.54 822 1.89 +1.47
ONE Frank Eijgenraam 602 1.41 — 462 1.06 —
Advance NZ Michael Alexander Stace 257 0.60 — 245 0.56 —
Opportunities   822 1.89 −0.87
Māori Party   171 0.39 −0.06
Legalise Cannabis   132 0.30 +0.06
Vision NZ   70 0.16 —
Outdoors   27 0.06 +0.02
Sustainable NZ   24 0.06 —
Social Credit   16 0.04 −0.00
TEA   6 0.01 —
Heartland   2 0.00 —
Informal votes 726 283
Total valid votes 42,611 43,428
Labour hold Majority 20,497 48.10 +26.11

2017 election

2017 general election: Rimutaka[8]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Chris Hipkins 21,725 55.48 +2.97 17,180 43.3 +10.57
National Carolyn O'Fallon 13,116 33.49 -0.87 15,433 38.9 -2.38
Green Stefan Grand-Meyer 1,815 4.63 -0.07 2,156 5.43 -4.47
NZ First Talani Meikle 1,604 4.09 -0.77 2,938 7.40 -2.83
Conservative Philip Lynch 356 0.91 -1.74 169 0.43 -3.58
ACT Grae O'Sullivan 190 0.49 — 147 0.37 +0.03
Opportunities   1,095 2.76 —
Māori Party   181 0.46 +0.6
Legalise Cannabis   96 0.24 -0.28
Ban 1080   33 0.08 -0.15
United Future   32 0.08 -0.25
People's Party   22 0.06 —
Outdoors   16 0.04 —
Internet   12 0.03 -0.84[a]
Democrats   10 0.03 -0.01
Mana   10 0.03 -0.84[b]
Informal votes 347 148
Total valid votes 39,153 39,678
Labour hold Majority 8,609 21.99 +3.85

2014 election

2014 general election: Rimutaka[9]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Chris Hipkins 19,286 52.51 +2.25 12,176 32.73 −0.16
National Lewis Holden 12,622 34.36 −6.27 15,352 41.28 −3.16
NZ First Aaron Hunt 1,785 4.86 +4.86 3,806 10.23 +6.21
Green Susanne Ruthven 1,727 4.70 −1.12 3,422 9.90 −1.41
Conservative Philip Michael Lynch 973 2.65 +2.65 955 4.01 +1.25
Internet Mana   324 0.87 +0.64[c]
Legalise Cannabis   194 0.52 +0.05
Māori Party   149 0.40 −0.15
ACT   126 0.34 −0.34
United Future   122 0.33 −0.66
Ban 1080   84 0.23 +0.23
Civilian   19 0.05 +0.05
Independent Coalition   19 0.05 +0.05
Democrats   14 0.04 +0.00
Focus   4 0.01 +0.01
Informal votes 241 159
Total valid votes 36,393 37,194
Labour hold Majority 6,664 18.14 +8.52

Electorate (as at 20 September 2014): 46,526[10]

2011 election

2011 general election: Rimutaka[11]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Chris Hipkins 17,171 51.58 12.31 11,375 33.13 -8.18
National Jonathan Fletcher 13,885 41.71 +4.60 15,364 44.75 +4.10
Green Tane Woodley 1,990 5.98 +0.96 3,422 9.97 +4.04
ACT Alwyn Courtenay 241 0.72 -0.57 235 0.68 -1.87
NZ First   2,148 6.26 +2.17
Conservative   955 2.78 +2.78
United Future   340 0.99 -0.41
Māori Party   190 0.55 -0.18
Legalise Cannabis   164 0.48 +0.13
Mana   80 0.23 +0.23
Libertarianz   28 0.08 +0.04
Alliance   20 0.06 -0.02
Democrats   12 0.03 +0.01
Informal votes 879 240
Total valid votes 33,287 34,333
Labour hold Majority 3,286 9.87 +7.72

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 44,403[12]

2008 election

2008 general election: Rimutaka[13]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Chris Hipkins 13,735 39.27 14,685 41.31
National Richard Whiteside 12,982 37.12 14,452 40.65
NZ First Ron Mark 5,257 15.03 1,453 4.09
Green Lynette Vigrass 1,755 5.02 2,107 5.93
United Future Jenni Hurn 522 1.49 499 1.40
ACT Nigel Kearney 453 1.30 909 2.56
Progressive John Maurice 272 0.78 345 0.97
Māori Party   260 0.73
Bill and Ben   255 0.72
Kiwi   242 0.68
Legalise Cannabis   122 0.34
Family Party   85 0.24
Pacific   57 0.16
Alliance   28 0.08
Workers Party   18 0.05
Libertarianz   13 0.04
Democrats   8 0.02
RONZ   7 0.02
RAM   4 0.01
Informal votes 297 126
Total valid votes 34,976 35,549
Labour hold Majority 753 2.15


2005 election

2005 general election: Rimutaka[14]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Paul Swain 18,681 54.74 -4.67 16,558 47.80
National Mike Leddy 10,404 30.49 +11.18 11,791 34.04
United Future Bernard McLelland 1,777 5.21 1,615 4.66
Green Michael Morris 1,243 3.64 1,446 4.17
NZ First David Fowler 1,094 3.21 1,736 5.01
Independent Dave Reynolds 549 1.61
ACT John Waugh 380 1.11 414 1.20
Legalise Cannabis   691 1.99
Progressive   451 1.30
Destiny   197 0.57
Māori Party   181 0.52
Christian Heritage   54 0.16
Alliance   28 0.08
Libertarianz   19 0.05
99 MP   14 0.04
Democrats   10 0.03
Family Rights   9 0.03
One NZ   8 0.02
Direct Democracy   6 0.02
RONZ   2 0.01
Informal votes 353 145
Total valid votes 34,128 34,640
Labour hold Majority 8,277 24.25 -16.10

2002 election

2002 general election: Rimutaka[15]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Paul Swain 18,688 58.65 14,856 46.31
National Mike Leddy 6,073 19.06 5,387 16.79
United Future Wayne Chapman 1,957 6.14 2,933 9.14
Green Russel Norman 1,267 3.97 1,683 5.24
ACT Nick Kearney 1,168 3.66 2,004 6.24
Christian Heritage Ken Munn 1,014 3.18 526 1.63
Progressive Robert Bryan 412 1.29 669 2.08
Independent Nick Kelly 376 1.18
Alliance Moira Lawler 310 0.97 394 1.22
One NZ Peter Grove 192 0.60 82 0.25
NZ First   2,641 8.23
ORNZ   562 1.75
Legalise Cannabis   179 0.55
NMP   10 0.03
Mana Māori   7 0.02
Informal votes 404 146
Total valid votes 31,861 32,079
Labour hold Majority 12,615 39.59

1999 election

1999 general election: Rimutaka[16][17]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Paul Swain 16,806 52.92 13,675 43.47
National Stuart Blair Roddick 8,432 26.55 8,993 28.59
Alliance Brendan Tracey 1,733 5.45 2,732 8.68
Christian Democrats Geoff Hounsell 947 2.98 641 2.03
Green Don Murray 858 2.70 1,259 4.00
Legalise Cannabis Brian Jensen 687 2.16 449 1.42
ACT Owen Dance 663 2.08 1,679 5.33
Christian Heritage Helma Vermeulen 536 1.68 678 2.15
NZ First John Hoani Cribb 535 1.68 911 2.89
Asia Pacific Naransamy Manoharan 34 0.10
United NZ   191 0.60
Libertarianz   77 0.24
Animals First   67 0.21
McGillicuddy Serious   50 0.15
Mauri Pacific   11 0.03
Mana Māori   7 0.02
The People's Choice   7 0.02
Natural Law   6 0.02
One NZ   6
South Island   6 0.02
NMP   4 0.01
Freedom Movement   2 0.01
Republican   2 0.01
Informal votes 525 303
Total valid votes 31,756 31,453
Labour hold Majority 8,374 26.36

1996 election

1996 general election: Rimutaka[18]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Paul Swain 11,665 36.98 10,560 33.47
National Karyn Bisdee 8,787 27.85 10,270 32.55
NZ First Red XN Peter McCardle 6,776 21.48 3,131 9.92
Alliance Brendan Tracey 2,379 7.54 3,678 11.66
Christian Coalition Geoff Hounsell 1,043 3.30 1,693 5.36
ACT Owen Dance 367 1.16 1,697 5.37
McGillicuddy Serious Dan Hegarty 251 0.79 115 0.36
Natural Law Neil West 52 0.16 22 0.06
Legalise Cannabis   447 1.41
United NZ   229 0.72
Animals First   65 0.20
Progressive Green   56 0.17
Asia Pacific   19 0.06
Superannuitants & Youth   18 0.05
Ethnic Minority   12 0.03
Green Society   10 0.03
Mana Māori   9 0.02
Libertarianz   8 0.02
Conservatives   7 0.02
Advance NZ   2 0.01
Te Tawharau   2 0.01
Informal votes 223 93
Total valid votes 31,543 31,543
Labour hold Majority 2,878 9.12

Table footnotes

  1. ^ 2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election
  2. ^ 2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election
  3. ^ 2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for Mana in 2011; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.

References

  1. ^ New Zealand Parliament – Chris Hipkins MP
  2. ^ a b "Remutaka electorate profile". Parliamentary Library. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2023. This article incorporates text by the Parliamentary Library available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  3. ^ "Labour stronghold shapes up as a battleground". stuff.co.nz. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008. [dead link]
  4. ^ "What's happening now in the boundary review". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Report of the Representation Commission 2020" (PDF). 17 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Remutaka - Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Remutaka - Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Official Count Results – Rimutaka". Wellington: New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Official Count Results -Rimutaka". electionresults.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Enrolment statistics". Electoral Commission. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  11. ^ 2011 election results
  12. ^ "Enrolment statistics". Electoral Commission. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  13. ^ 2008 election results
  14. ^ election result Rimutaka 2005
  15. ^ election result Rimutaka 2002 Archived 15 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Rimutaka - Candidate Vote Details". Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Votes for Registered Parties by Electorate - Rimutaka". Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Electorate Candidate and Party Votes Recorded at Each Polling Place - Rimutaka" (PDF). Retrieved 6 October 2023.

External links

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