Election results 2020: The battle for Christchurch - who's winning the race?

Voting gets underway for this year's general election at Liston House on Hobson St, Auckland, today. 3 September 2014 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Chris Gorman NZH 26Sep14 - WGP 03Oct14 -&

The race for Christchurch is on as hopefuls vie to control Canterbury seats.

Here are the contenders and the results as they come in.

Ilam

Incumbent MP: National's Gerry Brownlee (46.6% of vote in 2017)

Gerry Brownlee thanked his team and family after conceeding the Ilam seat to Labour's Sarah Pallett. Brownlee has held the seat since 1996.

With about 45 per cent of the vote counted by 9pm, Brownlee was down 26.5 per cent with 9561 votes to Pallett's 12090.

Earlier, Pallett paid tribute to her team, who had put in a lot of work to try to wrestle the seat away from Brownlee.

Speaking to NZME in Christchurch tonight as the shock results rolled in, Brownlee made a remarkable concession.

In times of uncertainty, people often look to stability, he said, and that was where what he described as the "extraordinary efforts" of Jacinda Ardern "have made quite a difference".

But in the same breath, he believed Judith Collins had done "a fantastic job in the three moths she got the opportunity to campaign" and believes that she will be "a good leader going forward".

Gerry Brownlee arriving at National's campaign headquarters in central Christchurch on election night. Photo / Logan Church

Candidates

• David Bennett Green Party
• Gerry Brownlee National Party
• Paul Gilbert ACT New Zealand
• Heidi Jensen-Warren NZ Outdoors Party
• Sarah Pallett Labour Party
• Toni Pengelly Advance NZ
• Simon Walmisley New Conservative

Christchurch Central

Incumbent MP: Labour's Duncan Webb (47.93% of vote in 2017)

Early in the vote count Labour incumbent Duncan Webb had a solid 689-vote lead over National candidate and former police officer Dale Stephens.

Labour's Duncan Webb, incumbent for Christchurch Central. Photo / Supplied

Candidates

• Mark Arneil New Zealand First Party
• Michael Britnell Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
• Carole Church Advance NZ
• Chrys Horn Green Party
• Abigail Johnson ACT New Zealand
• Hayden Laurie Independent
• Benjamin Price New Conservative
• Dale Stephens National Party
• Duncan Webb Labour Party
• Ken Webb ONE Party

Christchurch East

Incumbent MP: Labour's Poto Williams (54.4% of the vote in 2017)

Poto Williams, Labour's MP in Christchurch East since a 2013 by-election, was a comfortable 1923 votes ahead of National candidate Lincoln Platt after 7.1 per cent of the votes had been counted.

Labour's Poto Williams, incumbent for Christchurch East. Photo / John Borren

Candidates

• Nikki Berry Green Party
• Paula Maree Eason ONE Party
• Helen Houghton New Conservative
• Paula Lambert Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
• Glen McConnell Advance NZ
• Lincoln Platt National Party
• Toni Severin ACT New Zealand
• Charlotte Staples NZ Outdoors Party
• Poto Williams Labour Party

Wigram

Incumbent MP: Labour's Megan Woods (52.31% of the vote in 2017)

Labour stalwart Megan Woods is holding firm in the Christchurch seat of Wigram, which she has held since 2011.

Woods, the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, holds a commanding 6988-vote lead over National candidate Hamish Campbell, with 37.2 per cent of the votes counted.

Labour's Megan Woods, incumbent for Wigram. Photo / Supplied

Candidates

• Douglas John Allington Advance NZ
• Hamish Campbell National Party
• Tubby Hansen NZ Economic Euthenics Party
• Deane Landreth Social Credit
• Miles Jacin McConway ACT New Zealand
• Linda McLaughlin ONE Party
• Geoff McTague Independent
• Averil Nuttall New Conservative
• Richard Wesley Green Party
• Megan Woods Labour Party

Banks Peninsula

Incumbent MP: Labour's Ruth Dyson (53.89% in 2017 – Port Hills electorate)

At about 8pm on election night, Labour's Tracey Lee McLennan was well ahead of National's Catherine Chu - a lead of 3800 after 12.5 per cent of the votes had been counted.

Labour's Ruth Dyson, incumbent for Banks Peninsula. Photo / Supplied

Candidates

• Ben Atkinson The Opportunities Party (TOP)
• Catherine Chu National Party
• David Fox ACT New Zealand
• Caleb Honiss New Conservative
• Tracey Lee McLellan Labour Party
• Denis O'Rouke New Zealand First Party
• Eugenie Sage Green Party
• Tiamara Williams Advance NZ

Selwyn

Incumbent MP: National's Amy Adams (66.22% of the vote in 2017)

Former reporter and political adviser Nicola Grigg is holding a handy lead in the National stronghold of Selwyn, south of Christchurch - bucking the Canterbury sea of red.

Grigg is ahead by 1912 votes over Labour's Reuben Davidson with nearly half the votes counted (44.8 per cent).

National's Amy Adams, incumbent for Selwyn. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Candidates

• Stuart Armstrong ACT New Zealand
• Reuben Davidson Labour Party
• Nicola Grigg National Party
• Jerry Larason Advance NZ
• Bronwyn Lyell New Conservative
• Abe O'Donnell Green Party
• Calvin Payne Independent

Waimakariri

Incumbent MP: National's Matt Doocey (57.6% of the vote in 2017)

It's a battle royale in the Waimak: the lead had changed three times as of 8.20pm, with ex-Army officer Dan Rosewarne storming back for Labour and overtaking incumbent National MP Matt Doocey. After 36.6 per cent of the votes, Rosewarne was up by 364.

National's Matt Doocey, incumbent for Waimakariri. Photo / Supplied

Candidates

• Leighton Baker New Conservative
• James Davies ACT New Zealand
• Matt Doocey National Party
• John Hyndman Sustainable New Zealand Party
• Lawrence McIsaac Social Credit
• Shelley Richardson Advance NZ
• Dan Rosewarne Labour Party
• Bjorn Sadler Independent