Otaki (New Zealand electorate)

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Ōtaki is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, spanning part of the coast of the lower North Island. The bulk of its population comes from the Horowhenua district, but it also takes in part of the northern Kapiti Coast, including the towns of Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Otaki. It has been held by the Labour party since its creation, though after the 2005 election, it became the most marginal constituency in the country. Its current MP is Darren Hughes.^[1].

1 History
- 1.1 Members of Parliament for Otaki¹
- 1.2 List MPs from Otaki
2 Election results
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Otaki was created as one of the original 65 MMP electorates, for the 1996 election. Since its inception, the boundaries have been left largely unaltered, though after the 2007 boundary review a macron was added to the name, and it is now spelt Ōtaki. The first MP for Ōtaki was Judy Keall who won the electorate by less than a thousand votes in 1996, before notching up a more decisive victory in 1999. In 2002, her fomer electorate assistant Darren Hughes won the seat, becoming the youngest member of the New Zealand House of Representatives. His 2002 majority was slashed at the 2005 election by former Horowhenua District councillor Nathan Guy.

[edit] Members of Parliament for Otaki¹

Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Name	Party	Elected	Left Office	Reason
Judy Keall	Labour	1996, 1999	2002	retired
Darren Hughes	Labour	2002, 2005	-	incumbent

¹The name of the electorate at all elections between 1996 and 2005 has been styled "Otaki", and as Ōtaki for elections after 2008.

[edit] List MPs from Otaki

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Otaki electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.