In the next general election, we will be going into the polls as Kaipara ki Mahurangi, rather than Rodney. 

Six months ago, the electorate boundary review began, and on Friday the Representation Commission released its final report, with name changes to ten existing electorates. 

The Kaipara ki Mahurangi boundary runs from Te Arai south almost to Waitakere, and takes in the former Helensville electorate. The Hibiscus Coast has moved into the Whangaparaoa electorate. 

The new electorate was originally to be called Helensville, but there was strong public opposition to that name.

Commission chair, Judge Craig Thompson, says that where possible, the commission has maintained existing electorate boundaries and no changes have been made to 36 electorates. The boundaries of 30 general and five Māori electorates have been adjusted to some degree.

The proposed electorates were released for public comment last November and 438 written submissions were received. Public hearings were held in February.

“Now the boundaries and names have been finalised, we’d encourage people to go to www.vote.nz to check which electorate they are in.”