Whanganui (known as Wanganui until 1996) is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was first established in 1860 for the 3rd Parliament, and has existed continuously since then.
It is held by Carl Bates of the National Party, who won it in the 2023 general election.
Contents
Establishment
In the 1860 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives increased the number of representatives by 12, reflecting the immense population growth since the original electorates were established in 1853. The redistribution created 15 additional electorates, with between one and three members, and the Wanganui and Rangitikei electorate was split into two separate electorates: the Rangitikei electorate, and the Wanganui electorate, with one member each.
Population centres
The current electorate is based on the urban area of Whanganui, the town of Hāwera, and smaller centres Kaponga, Eltham, Normanby, Manaia, Pātea and Waverley; broadly speaking, the Whanganui and South Taranaki local government districts. The 2025 boundary review added the Ruapehu District towns of Raetihi, Ohakune, Waiouru, Waimarino and Ōwhango, and the Tongariro National Park.
History
Henry Shafto Harrison was the first representative. His 7 February 1861 election was declared invalid. He stood again in the 1861 by-election and was elected again. He then served the electorate until the end of the term in 1866.
Harrison, John Bryce and John Garner contested the 1866 election. The nomination meeting was held on Friday, 2 March 1866. Harrison, Bryce and Garner received 51, 102 and 7 votes, respectively, at the election on the following day. Bryce was thus declared elected. Bryce resigned in 1867.
The resulting 6 May 1867 by-election was won by Harrison, and he served until the dissolution of Parliament on 30 December 1870.
Bryce was again elected in the 30 January 1871 election. This time, he served three parliamentary terms until the dissolution in November 1881.
Wanganui became a two-member electorate for the 12 January 1876 election. Apart from Bryce, Julius Vogel was elected, who was later to become Premier. Vogel resigned on 9 September 1876.
The resulting 2 October 1876 by-election was won by William Fox, resulting in his second period of representation of a Whanganui-centred electorate. He served until the end of the term on 15 August 1879.
Bryce and John Ballance won the 1879 election. They both served until the end of the term, with Parliament being dissolved on 8 November 1881.
For the 1881 election, the electorate reverted to being represented by a single member. The election, held on 9 December, was won by William Hogg Watt. He served until the end of the term, with Parliament being dissolved on 27 June 1884.
The 1884 election was once again won by John Ballance. This time, he would serve in three successive Parliaments. He died in office on 27 April 1893 during the 11th Parliament. Ballance formed the Liberal Party after the 1890 election and became its leader, and thus introduced party politics to New Zealand. The Liberal Government of New Zealand would last for 21 years and is the longest serving government in New Zealand's history.
Members of Parliament
Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at a general election.
Key
Independent
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal–Labour
Independent Labour
United Labour
United
Labour
National
List MPs
Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.
Election results
2026 election
The next election will be held on 7 November 2026. Candidates for Whanganui are listed at Candidates in the 2026 New Zealand general election by electorate § Whanganui. Official results will be available after 27 November 2026.
2011 election
Electorate (as at 11 November 2011): 43,350
1999 election
Refer to Candidates in the New Zealand general election 1999 by electorate#Whanganui for a list of candidates.