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A review of electorate boundaries for the 2026 General Election will start in February.
It will be held by the Representation Commission, which is the independent body that reviews and adjusts the boundaries and names of Parliamentary electorates after each population census.
The role of the commission is to ensure electorates have about the same number of people living in them, so that people have equal representation in Parliament. Factors considered when reviewing the boundaries include existing boundaries and communities of interest, and iwi affiliations in Māori electorates.
The number of South Island general electorates is fixed by law at 16. Because of population changes, the number of North Island general electorates will reduce from 49 to 48. The number of Māori electorates remains unchanged at seven.
District Court Judge Kevin Kelly will chair the six-month long review. The proposed new boundaries will be released in March for public consultation with the final boundaries announced in early August.
