November 21, 2013
Maori electorates unchanged
Maori electorates have been left unchanged in the redrawing of electorate boundaries that follows the latest census.
The Representation Commission says all seven Maori electorates were within quota.
The commission created a new Auckland seat, Upper Harbour, which will take in parts of the Te Atatu, Albany and East Coast Bays seats.
Waitakere MP Paula Bennett says she will put her name up so stand for National in the new seat.
The name Waitakere will drop off the electoral map, with its voters divided up among Te Atatu, Helensville and a new Kelston seat.
Christchurch is also set for major boundary changes because of significant population movement from Christchurch East, Christchurch Central and Port Hills electorates in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Much of the movement was to Waimakariri, Wigram and Selwyn, which also have their boundaries changed.
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