Mt Roskill

The electorate is a considered a sure thing for Labour MP Phil Goff, despite boundary changes which could favour National candidate Brent Trewheela.

Gone from the electorate are Blockhouse Bay and Lynfield, while it has gained area to the north, around Balmoral Rd and parts of Onehunga.

Mr Goff said the changes would have an impact on him - but not a serious one.

One in four people in the Mt Roskill electorate is Asian. Traditionally, the Indian community has backed Labour, but the Chinese population is regarded as more business-oriented and right-leaning.

The average income of $18,500 is exactly that of the national average. But the unemployment rate is 8.9 per cent, compared to the national average of 7.5 per cent.

Traditionally Mt Roskill is a safe Labour seat. Labour held the seat for 33 years until 1990, when National's Gilbert Myles won it from Goff, who had held it since 1981.

Three years later Goff was back with a comfortable 2205 majority, and has held it since.

Two of the main electorate issues are school zones and traffic congestion.

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