Election 2023: Port Waikato by-election sees nine candidates in the running

Nine candidates are contesting the Port Waikato seat in the byelection. Photo / Mike Scott

Nine candidates have thrown their hat in the ring in the Port Waikato by-election.

The by-election, sparked by the sudden death of Act Party candidate Neil Christensen during the recent general election campaign, would be held on November 25.

The candidates are National’s Andrew Bayly, Scotty Bright of DemocracyNZ, Casey Costello of New Zealand First, independent Gordon John Dickson, Alf Metuakore Ngaro of NewZeal, Jill Annette Ovens of the Women’s Rights Party, Anna Joy Rippon of the Animal Justice Party, Vijay Sudhamalla of Vision New Zealand and Kim Turner of New Zealand Loyal.

The Labour Party had been standing Gwendoline Keel in the seat for the 2023 election, until Christensen’s death, but decided not to stand a candidate in the by-election saying it’s a traditional National Party electorate and Labour’s resources will be better put towards its transition to opposition.

Act candidate Neil Christensen has died.

Labour Party president Jill Day said contesting an “unwinnable by-election takes focus and resources away from that role”.

The upcoming by-election is only seeking a local member of Parliament as the party votes have already been counted in the general election.

Of the 33,437 party votes received in the Port Waikato electorate, National received the most with 16885.

Advance voting for the by-election starts on November 13 and overseas voting starts on November 8. On by-election day on November 25, voting places will be open from 9am to 7pm.

Preliminary results will be released that night.

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