Taranaki - King Country

National incumbent Shane Ardern has his work cut out campaigning in what is now one of the country's biggest electorates.

Changes to electorate boundaries mean Jim Bolger's old stamping ground gains Te Awamutu in the north but loses Taumarunui in the west and Manaia, Kaponga and Eltham in the south.

Ardern, a 42-year-old dairy farmer, won the seat at a byelection when Bolger quit politics in 1998 and cemented his victory a year later with a 6510 majority.

This year he is up against a strong challenge from Judy Hawkins (Labour) and Act list MP Owen Jennings, who is campaigning for party votes only.

Although traditionally regarded as conservative and a safe National seat, that was probably more to do with Bolger's high profile than the demographics of the electorate.

Maori make up about 18 per cent - down from 23 per cent before the boundary changes - and both ends of the socio-economic scale are represented. Unemployment is relatively low at 5.7 per cent.

The main issues are health and education in isolated rural areas.

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