Auckland Central (electorate)

In the 1887 electoral redistribution, although the Representation Commission was required through the Representation Act 1887 to maintain existing electorates "as far as possible", rapid population growth in the North Island required the transfer of three seats from the South Island to the north. Ten new electorates were created, including Auckland Central, and one former electorate was recreated. Auckland Central contains the Auckland city centre, the suburbs of Ponsonby, Westmere, Arch Hill, Herne Bay, Freemans Bay, St Mary's Bay, Mechanics Bay, Newton and Eden Terrace at the west side of the city. Because of the location of the main Auckland ferry terminal, Auckland Central also contains the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. At the 2008 election, Grafton became part of , and Point Chevalier moved into . To offset these changes, the suburb of Newton was drafted in from Mount Albert. Further population growth ahead of the 2014 election resulted in Westmere and Grey Lynn transferring to Mount Albert. At the 2025 boundary review, the electorate would gain Westmere, Western Springs and Grey Lynn from , and transferred a part of Arch Hill to , and Grafton and Newton to . ==History==

Auckland Central was created ahead of the 1887 election; it was carved from parts of the electorates of Auckland North and the Auckland West and focused around upper Queen Street, Grafton, and Newton. It lasted only until the 1890 elections, when a reduction in the number of electorates meant Auckland Central was re-incorporated into a larger City of Auckland electorate. At the 1905 elections, the Auckland seat was split into three seats, including a recreated Auckland Central. The seat has been held by the Labour Party for most of its existence: between 1919 and 2008, the seat had spent only three years in the hands of another party (the left-wing Alliance, from 1993 to 1996). However, the 2008 election saw Nikki Kaye win the seat for the National Party for the first time. Kaye retained the seat in 2011, 2014 and 2017, although with a reduced majority making Auckland Central one of the most marginal electorates in the country. She retired at the 2020 election, which saw Green Party candidate Chlöe Swarbrick win the seat in a tight three-way contest and become only the second Green electorate MP. Members of Parliament Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections. Key List MPs Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Auckland Central electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections. Key ==Election results==

2026 election The next election will be held on 7 November 2026. Candidates for Auckland Central are listed at Candidates in the 2026 New Zealand general election by electorate § Auckland Central. Official results will be available after 27 November 2026. 2023 election 2020 election 2017 election 2014 election 2011 election 2008 election 2005 election 2002 election 1999 election {{MMP election box begin 1996 election 1993 election 1990 election 1987 election 1984 election 1981 election 1978 election 1975 election 1972 election 1969 election 1966 election 1963 election 1960 election 1957 election 1954 election 1951 election 1949 election 1946 election 1943 election 1938 election 1935 election Table footnotes: 1931 election 1928 election 1925 election 1922 election 1919 election 1914 election 1911 election 1908 election 1905 election 1887 election ==Table footnotes==