Number of Electorates and Electoral Populations: 2013 Census Embargoed until 10:45am – 07 October 2013
Key facts The number of electorates will increase from 70 to 71 at the next general election. The number of North Island general electorates will increase from 47 to 48. The number of Māori electorates will remain at seven. The number of general electorates in the South Island is set at 16 by the Electoral Act 1993. In a 120-seat parliament (excluding any overhang seats), a total of 71 electorates will result in 49 list seats being allocated. This is one less list seat than in the 2011 General Election. The Representation Commission can now review the electorate boundaries for the next general election.
Liz MacPherson 7 October 2013 Government Statistician ISBN 978-0-478-40854-6
Commentary Electoral populations increase since 2006 Number of electorates will increase Twenty-one current electorates vary from quota by more than 5 percent Enrolments on Māori roll increase
Electoral populations increase since 2006
The general electoral population of the North Island is 2,867,110, up 176,673 (6.6 percent) from 2006. For the South Island it is 954,871, up 33,872 (3.7 percent) from 2006.
Based on the latest electoral population figures, the electoral population quota (the average population in an electorate) is 59,731 people for each North Island general electorate and 59,679 people for each South Island general electorate.
The general electoral population quota has increased by 2,488 people for the North Island and by 2,117 people for the South Island. The quotas were last calculated in 2006 and were used by the Representation Commission to set electorate boundaries in 2007.
The Māori electoral population is 420,990, up 3,909 (0.9 percent) from 2006. The electoral population quota for each Māori electorate is 60,141 people, which is an increase of 558 people from the 2006 quota.
Number of electorates will increase
The total number of general electorates will increase by one, up from 63 to 64. The number of Māori electorates will remain at seven.
The number of Māori electorates is calculated using the electoral Māori descent census usually resident population count from the 2013 Census and the results of the Māori Electoral Option 2013.
There will be 48 general electorates in the North Island. The number of general electorates in the South Island is, by law, held constant at 16. In a 120-seat parliament (excluding any overhang seats) having 71 electorates will result in 49 list seats being allocated – one less than in the 2011 General Election.
For information about how the electoral populations and number of electorates are determined, see data quality.
Figures 1–3 below show the current (2007) general and Māori electorates and the variance from the 2013 quota.
2 Figure 1
3 Figure 2
4 Figure 3
5 Twenty-one current electorates vary from quota by more than 5 percent
The electoral population of each electorate that the Representation Commission defines must lie within 5 percent of the electoral population quotas. The minimum and maximum electoral populations that apply to the new electorate boundaries are given in table 2 (see the Excel file in the ‘Downloads’ box). The Representation Commission meets in 2013 to begin the electorate boundary review process.
Currently, 21 electorates (2007 boundaries) have electoral populations that vary by more than plus or minus 5 percent of the 2013 quota (see table 4 in the Excel file in the ‘Downloads’ box).
The general electoral population of the Auckland Central electorate currently exceeds the electoral quota by the largest percentage (18 percent). This is followed by Hunua, Helensville, and Selwyn electorates, which currently exceed the quota by 15, 14, and 14 percent, respectively.
The general electoral population of the Christchurch East electorate is below the quota by the largest percentage (-23 percent). This is followed by East Coast, Port Hills, and Christchurch Central electorates, which are below the quota by -10, -10, and -9 percent, respectively.
The current general electorate with the largest electoral population is Auckland Central, with 70,406 people (see table 3 in the Excel file in the ‘Downloads’ box). In contrast, Christchurch East, with 45,967 people, has the smallest general electoral population.
The current Māori electorate with the largest electoral population is Hauraki-Waikato, with 62,309 people, while Waiariki has the smallest at 57,506 people.
The electoral populations of the current general electorates in Greater Christchurch may reflect the impact of the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, as people have relocated from affected areas. The Christchurch East, Port Hills, and Christchurch Central electorates are now below the quota by -23, -10, and -9 percent, respectively. Selwyn, Wigram, and Waimakariri now exceed the quota by 14, 10, and 8 percent, respectively. Ilam electorate is within 5 percent variance from the quota.
Figures 4–8 below show the current (2007) general electorates and variance from the 2013 quota for selected urban areas.
6 Figure 4
7 Figure 5
8 Figure 6
9 Figure 7
10 Figure 8
11 Enrolments on Māori roll increase
People of Māori descent are periodically given the choice of moving from one electoral roll (Māori or general) to the other. The outcome of the Māori Electoral Option 2013, and new registrations received, was that the number of people on the Māori roll increased.
A net increase of 7,052 people were enrolled on the Māori roll as a result of the Māori Electoral Option 2013. In terms of new enrolments (individuals previously not enrolled on either roll), there were 2,721 new Māori enrolments on the general roll, and 6,454 new enrolments on the Māori roll. This resulted in a total of 9,175 new Māori enrolments.
Between the end of the Māori Electoral Option 2006 and the end of the latest option on 24 July 2013, enrolments on the Māori roll increased to 256,212 (up 12,091, or 5.0 percent). The number of people on the general roll who declared they were of Māori descent increased to 203,640 (up 25,501, or 14.3 percent) over the same period.
The number of people of Māori descent, as reported in the census, increased from 721,431 at the time of the 2006 Census to 755,598 at the time of the 2013 Census (up 34,167, or 4.7 percent). The electoral Māori descent census usually resident population count and the results of the Māori Electoral Option are used to determine the number of Māori electorates.
For more detailed data see the Excel tables in the ‘Downloads’ box.
12 Definitions About electorates and electoral populations
Electoral populations are calculated using data from the Census of Population and Dwellings and the electoral rolls. Electoral populations are used to determine the number of North Island general and Māori electorates. The number of electorates in the South Island is fixed at 16 by the Electoral Act 1993. This information is used by the Representation Commission to determine the general and Māori electorate boundaries.
A change in the number of electorates also affects the number of list seats in parliament, as excluding any overhang seats, the Electoral Act specifies there are 120 members of parliament.
More definitions
Census usually resident population count: the count of all people who usually live in New Zealand, and were present in New Zealand on census night. Excluded are overseas visitors and New Zealand residents temporarily overseas.
Electorate: a geographic area defined and named by the Representation Commission to elect a general electorate MP or a Māori electorate MP. An electorate is also known as an electoral district.
General electorate: an electorate other than a Māori electorate (Electoral Act 1993, s3(1)). Māori electorate: an electorate constituted under section 45 of the Electoral Act (Electoral Act 1993, s3(1)).
Electorate boundary: the physical boundaries of an electorate, as determined by the Representation Commission according to criteria specified in the Electoral Act 1993 (s35 to 46).
Electoral Māori descent census usually resident population count: the count of people who provided a clear ’yes’ response to the Māori descent question in the census. The count also includes a proportion of those who did not provide a clear 'yes' or 'no' response to the question. This proportion takes account of respondents who answered 'don't know', who provided a multiple response (eg 'yes' and 'don't know'), or who did not provide a response at all to the question.
Electoral population: the census usually resident population count, as shown in the last Census of Population and Dwellings.
General electoral population: the total ordinarily resident population as shown in the last Census of Population and Dwellings, with the exception of the Māori electoral population (Electoral Act 1993, s3 (1)). Māori electoral population: the total number of people registered as voters in the Māori electorates, plus a proportion of people of New Zealand Māori descent who are not registered as electors of any electorates, plus a proportion of the people of New Zealand Māori descent under the age of 18 years (Electoral Act 1993, s3(1)).
Electoral population quota: the average population in an electorate. See ‘Calculating electorates, numbers, and quotas’ in data quality for more information.
13 Electoral roll: the list of all registered voters for a particular electorate; kept by the Registrar of Electors.
General electoral roll: a collective name for all rolls for the general electorates. Māori electoral roll: a collective name for all rolls for the Māori electorates.
Māori Electoral Option: the period after each census when each person on the Māori roll, and each person on the general roll who said they were Māori or of Māori descent when they last registered as a voter, is able to choose whether to be enrolled on the Māori roll or on the general roll for the period until the next Māori Electoral Option.
Overhang seats: the name given to electorate seats won by a registered political party that are in excess of the total number of seats the party would otherwise be entitled to – based on its share of party votes.
Representation Commission: an independent body that decides the boundaries of the general and Māori electorates after each five-yearly Census of Population and Dwellings and Māori Electoral Option.
14 Related links Upcoming releases
2013 Census products and services release schedule lists upcoming census releases.
The release calendar lists all our upcoming information releases by date of release.
Subscribe to information releases by completing the online subscription form.
Past releases
Electoral Populations Calculated: 2006 was published following the 2006 Census and the Māori Electoral Option 2006.
Electoral Populations Calculated: 2001 was published following the 2001 Census and the Māori Electoral Option 2001.
Related information
Redrawing of electorate boundaries soon to get underway has information from the Representation Commission about redrawing the electorate boundaries for use in the 2014 and 2017 General Elections.
About the Māori Electoral Option has information about choosing between the general electoral roll and the Māori electoral roll, and about how the number of people on the Māori roll affects the number of Māori electorates.
Elections has information on finding which electorate you live in, enrolling to vote, voting in an election, political parties, and more.
The mathematics of electorate allocation in New Zealand based on the outcome of the 2013 Census and Māori Electoral Option 2013 explains how the number of electorates is calculated.
15 Data quality Period-specific information This section contains information that has changed since the last release.
Reference period
General information This section contains information that does not change between releases.
Calculating electorates, numbers, and quotas Calculating electoral populations for different areas Projected populations used to form electorate boundaries Calculating Māori descent from the census
Period-specific information
Reference period
The electoral populations in this information release were calculated using data from the electoral rolls at 24 July 2013 (following the Māori Electoral Option 2013) and the Census of Population and Dwellings conducted on 5 March 2013.
The 8 March 2011 Census was called off following the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The national state of emergency and the likely effect on census results meant that the 2011 Census could not have been successfully completed at that time.
General information
Calculating electorates, numbers, and quotas
The number of electorates, quotas, and other data in table 1 (see the Excel file in the ‘Downloads’ box) are based on calculations laid down in the Electoral Act 1993. The formula to calculate electorates is as follows:
The general electoral population of the South Island is divided by 16 to give the South Island quota. The North Island general electoral population is divided by the South Island quota and rounded to give the number of North Island general electorates. The North Island general electoral population is divided by the number of North Island general electorates to give the North Island quota. The Māori electoral population is divided by the South Island quota and rounded to give the number of Māori electorates. The Māori electoral population quota is the Māori electoral population divided by the number of Māori electorates.
Calculating electoral populations for different areas
The Electoral Act 1993 requires that the base totals (census usually resident population count, and electoral Māori descent census usually resident population count; and enrolments on the Māori and general rolls for people of Māori descent) are first aggregated to the geographic level
16 needed, before calculating the electoral populations. A different order of processing may lead to different results. Calculating electoral populations and the number of electorates requires separate calculations at the North Island, South Island, New Zealand, and general and Māori electorate levels.
Projected populations used to form electorate boundaries
The Representation Commission must consider a number of factors when forming electorates, including any projected variation in the electoral population during each electorate's life. As the commission reviews the boundaries, Statistics New Zealand provides it with projections of the general electoral population of proposed general electorates, and of the Māori electoral population of proposed Māori electorates.
For both general and Māori electorates, the commission can allow the electoral population to vary from the quota by up to plus or minus 5 percent.
Calculating Māori descent from the census
The Māori electoral population is calculated using the results of the Māori descent question in the census, with some adjustments. The electoral Māori descent census usually resident population count includes the people who provided a clear 'yes' response to the Māori descent question. The count also includes a proportion of those who did not provide a clear 'yes' or 'no' response to the question. This proportion takes account of respondents who answered 'don't know', who provided a multiple response (eg 'yes' and 'don't know'), or who did not provide a response at all to the question.
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18 Tables The following tables are available in Excel format from the 'Downloads' box. If you have problems viewing the files, see opening files and PDFs.
1. Electorates and list seats 2. Electorates and quotas based on 2013 electoral populations 3. Electoral populations by (current) electorate 4. 2013 electoral populations and variance from 2013 quota
19 Number of Electorates and Electoral Populations: 2013 Census
Table 1
Electorates and list seats
Type of electorate/seat 1995 1997 2002 2007 2014
General North Island 44 45 46 47 48 South Island(1) 16 16 16 16 16
Māori 5 6 7 7 7
List(2) 55 53 51 50 49
Total 120 120 120 120 120
1. The number of South Island electorates is set by the Electoral Act 1993 at 16. 2. The number of list seats reflects a 120-seat parliament, excluding any overhang.
Source: Statistics New Zealand
www.stats.govt.nz Number of Electorates and Electoral Populations: 2013 Census
Table 2
Electorates and quotas based on 2013 electoral populations
Electoral Number of Minimum population for Maximum population Type of electorate Quota population(1) electorates(1) each electorate(2) for each electorate(2)
General North Island 2,867,110 48 59,731 56,745 62,717 South Island(3) 954,871 16 59,679 56,696 62,662
Māori 420,990 7 60,141 57,134 63,148
1. Calculated using results from the 2013 Census and Māori Electoral Option 2013. 2. The population of each new electorate must lie within 5 percent of the quota. 3. The number of South Island electorates is set by the Electoral Act 1993 at 16.
Source: Statistics New Zealand
www.stats.govt.nz Number of Electorates and Electoral Populations: 2013 Census
Table 3
Electoral populations by (current) electorate 2006 and 2013
Electoral population Electoral population Electorate (current)(1) 2006(2) 2013(3)
North Island general Auckland Central 57,872 70,406 Bay of Plenty 56,358 62,518 Botany 54,408 57,248 Coromandel 56,524 57,505 East Coast 55,045 53,960 East Coast Bays 57,391 64,005 Epsom 59,103 62,990 Hamilton East 55,839 64,577 Hamilton West 57,867 59,530 Helensville 59,610 68,026 Hunua 54,671 68,951 Hutt South 56,623 57,428 Mana 56,603 60,755 Māngere 54,673 58,543 Manukau East 58,586 62,347 Manurewa 54,662 59,472 Maungakiekie 59,098 63,274 Mt Albert 58,944 61,451 Mt Roskill 58,833 61,388 Napier 55,990 57,417 New Lynn 58,652 61,731 New Plymouth 54,995 59,213 North Shore 59,346 62,277 Northcote 58,128 60,818 Northland 59,434 60,818 Ōhariu 57,419 61,575 Ōtaki 57,456 59,824 Pakuranga 57,283 59,779 Palmerston North 58,124 59,567 Papakura 56,289 62,652 Rangitīkei 56,081 56,364 Rimutaka 56,757 58,938 Rodney 58,005 67,134 Rongotai 57,950 59,753 Rotorua 58,827 58,002 Tāmaki 58,315 62,779 Taranaki-King Country 55,389 57,230 Taupō 59,656 62,552 Tauranga 57,432 62,741 Te Atatū 56,922 61,619 Tukituki 57,928 60,298 Waikato 54,640 59,369 Wairarapa 57,949 59,167 Waitakere 54,887 61,251 Wellington Central 58,799 64,374 Whanganui 58,213 57,718 Whangarei 58,499 60,522
Note: For footnotes, see end of table.
www.stats.govt.nz Number of Electorates and Electoral Populations: 2013 Census
Table 3 continued
Electoral populations by (current) electorate 2006 and 2013
Electoral population Electoral population Electorate (current)(1) 2006(2) 2013(3)
South Island general Christchurch Central 58,309 54,104 Christchurch East 55,804 45,967 Clutha-Southland 58,166 62,161 Dunedin North 56,830 56,906 Dunedin South 57,012 58,132 Ilam 59,869 59,578 Invercargill 57,411 59,083 Kaikōura 56,593 59,174 Nelson 56,088 60,058 Port Hills 55,568 53,667 Rangitata 60,388 64,142 Selwyn 54,760 67,818 Waimakariri 57,504 64,454 Waitaki 60,135 64,962 West Coast-Tasman 56,309 59,021 Wigram 60,047 65,433
Māori Hauraki-Waikato 58,394 62,309 Ikaroa-Rāwhiti 59,248 58,509 Tāmaki Makaurau 60,380 57,766 Te Tai Hauāuru 61,033 60,847 Te Tai Tokerau 60,535 61,498 Te Tai Tonga 59,108 61,496 Waiariki 58,052 57,506
1. Current electorates were implemented after the 2007 review by the Representation Commission. 2. Calculated using results from the 2006 Census and Māori Electoral Option 2006. 3. Calculated using results from the 2013 Census and Māori Electoral Option 2013.
Source: Statistics New Zealand
www.stats.govt.nz Number of Electorates and Electoral Populations: 2013 Census
Table 4
2013 electoral populations and variance from 2013 quota
Variance Electoral from Electorates (current)(1) Quota population(2) quota %(3)
North Island general Auckland Central 70,406 59,731 18 x Bay of Plenty 62,518 59,731 5 Botany 57,248 59,731 -4 Coromandel 57,505 59,731 -4 East Coast 53,960 59,731 -10 x East Coast Bays 64,005 59,731 7 x Epsom 62,990 59,731 5 x Hamilton East 64,577 59,731 8 x Hamilton West 59,530 59,731 0 Helensville 68,026 59,731 14 x Hunua 68,951 59,731 15 x Hutt South 57,428 59,731 -4 Mana 60,755 59,731 2 Māngere 58,543 59,731 -2 Manukau East 62,347 59,731 4 Manurewa 59,472 59,731 0 Maungakiekie 63,274 59,731 6 x Mt Albert 61,451 59,731 3 Mt Roskill 61,388 59,731 3 Napier 57,417 59,731 -4 New Lynn 61,731 59,731 3 New Plymouth 59,213 59,731 -1 North Shore 62,277 59,731 4 Northcote 60,818 59,731 2 Northland 60,818 59,731 2 Ōhariu 61,575 59,731 3 Ōtaki 59,824 59,731 0 Pakuranga 59,779 59,731 0 Palmerston North 59,567 59,731 0 Papakura 62,652 59,731 5 Rangitīkei 56,364 59,731 -6 x Rimutaka 58,938 59,731 -1 Rodney 67,134 59,731 12 x Rongotai 59,753 59,731 0 Rotorua 58,002 59,731 -3 Tāmaki 62,779 59,731 5 x Taranaki-King Country 57,230 59,731 -4 Taupō 62,552 59,731 5 Tauranga 62,741 59,731 5 x Te Atatū 61,619 59,731 3 Tukituki 60,298 59,731 1 Waikato 59,369 59,731 -1 Wairarapa 59,167 59,731 -1 Waitakere 61,251 59,731 3 Wellington Central 64,374 59,731 8 x Whanganui 57,718 59,731 -3 Whangarei 60,522 59,731 1
Note: For footnotes, see end of table.
www.stats.govt.nz Number of Electorates and Electoral Populations: 2013 Census
Table 4 continued
2013 electoral populations and variance from 2013 quota
Variance Electoral Electorates (current)(1) Quota from quota population(2) %(3)
South Island general Christchurch Central 54,104 59,679 -9 x Christchurch East 45,967 59,679 -23 x Clutha-Southland 62,161 59,679 4 Dunedin North 56,906 59,679 -5 Dunedin South 58,132 59,679 -3 Ilam 59,578 59,679 0 Invercargill 59,083 59,679 -1 Kaikōura 59,174 59,679 -1 Nelson 60,058 59,679 1 Port Hills 53,667 59,679 -10 x Rangitata 64,142 59,679 7 x Selwyn 67,818 59,679 14 x Waimakariri 64,454 59,679 8 x Waitaki 64,962 59,679 9 x West Coast-Tasman 59,021 59,679 -1 Wigram 65,433 59,679 10 x
Māori Hauraki-Waikato 62,309 60,141 4 Ikaroa-Rāwhiti 58,509 60,141 -3 Tāmaki Makaurau 57,766 60,141 -4 Te Tai Hauāuru 60,847 60,141 1 Te Tai Tokerau 61,498 60,141 2 Te Tai Tonga 61,496 60,141 2 Waiariki 57,506 60,141 -4
1. Current electorates were implemented after the 2007 review by the Representation Commission. 2. Calculated using results from the 2013 Census and Māori Electoral Option 2013. 3. Variance from quota percentages have been rounded to whole numbers in this table. The symbol 'x' (for outside the 5 percent tolerance from the quota) is based on the original unrounded figure.
Symbol: x indicates that the 2013 electoral population is outside the 5 percent tolerance from the 2013 quota. The Representation Commission will review boundaries and make adjustments to ensure the variance is within the 5 percent tolerance as required by the Electoral Act 1993.
Source: Statistics New Zealand
www.stats.govt.nz