Palmerston North

General electorate in Manawatu-Whanganui

2026 General Electorate/Manawatu-Whanganui/Palmerston North
2023 election resultsShow ▾

Electorate (candidate) votes, 14 October 2023. Winner: Tangi Utikere (Labour), majority 3,087.

  • Tangi UtikereLabour15,339 (43.8%)
  • Ankit BansalNational12,252 (35.0%)
  • Teanau TuionoGreen Party3,162 (9.0%)
  • Mike HartnettACT2,841 (8.1%)
  • Dean GrantLOYAL1,016 (2.9%)
  • Douglas BeggAnimal Justice402 (1.1%)

Source: Electoral Commission (electionresults.govt.nz). Electorate (candidate) vote only; party vote not shown.

Current MP for Palmerston North

Tangi Utikere

Current MP
Labour
FromPalmerston North
About
Palmerston North MP; former teacher and Deputy Mayor.

Focus

Fighting for Palmerston North to be thriving with good jobs, reliable healthcare and affordable housing; holds Transport and Local Government portfolios.

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Candidates

Helma Vermeulen

New
NZ First
FromPalmerston North
About
NZ First Member's Council and board member; business owner and long-time community carer.

Focus

Standing in Palmerston North on family support services, small business conditions and community care.

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Ankit Bansal

New
National
FromPalmerston North
About
Business owner and procurement professional with retail advocacy experience.

Focus

Focused on restoring law and order for Palmerston North, particularly for retailers; advocates against crime affecting local businesses.

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Teanau Tuiono

Green Party
FromPalmerston North
About
Green list MP since 2020, first Pasifika Green MP, UN climate negotiations representative.

Focus

Contesting Palmerston North; holds portfolios spanning space, defence, workplace relations, foreign affairs and Pacific peoples.

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Bruce McGechan

New
ACT
FromPalmerston North
About
Founder of Palmerston North business valuation firm Fealty; 30 years in investment, technology and consumer brands.

Focus

Standing in Palmerston North on business investment conditions, entrepreneurship and regional economic growth.

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Netra Ghimire

New
TOP
FromPalmerston North area
About
High school teacher of social studies, physical education and financial literacy; came to New Zealand at 11 from a refugee camp.

Focus

Standing in Palmerston North on education pathways into trades and technology, housing costs for young families, and TOP's citizen's income policy.

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Brian Baker

New
Animal Justice
FromWhanganui region
About
Singer-songwriter, producer and animal-justice advocate standing for the Animal Justice Party in Palmerston North.

Focus

Animal Justice Party candidate for Palmerston North, campaigning for stronger animal welfare laws and compassion-based policy.

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General electorateManawatu-Whanganui2026 General Election - 7 Nov 2026