New Plymouth is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was first created for the 1st New Zealand Parliament in 1853 and has existed since, with one 32-year interruption. The electorate was initially called Town of New Plymouth.
The electorate is currently held by David MacLeod for National. He defeated Labour’s Glen Bennett in the 2023 general election by 6,991 votes.
Contents
Population centres
In the 1927 electoral redistribution, the North Island gained a further electorate from the South Island due to faster population growth. Five electorates were abolished, two former electorates, including New Plymouth, were re-established, and three electorates were created for the first time. At the 2014 election, the electorate's southern boundary would move south to include Ōpunake. At the 2025 boundary review, the boundary with Taranaki-King Country would be adjusted to include Waitara wholly within the electorate.
The electorate includes the following population centres:
New Plymouth
Bell Block
Waitara
Ōpunake
Ōakura
Ōkato
Egmont Village
Rahotu
History
The electorate was originally the Town of New Plymouth from 1853 to 1879. The name of the electorate was changed to New Plymouth from 1879 to 1896. The electorate was abolished in 1896, and was reconstituted under the same name in 1928.
Oliver Samuel, Edward Smith, Thomas Kelly (incumbent) and Charles Brown contested the electorate in the 1884 election; Samuel won the contest.
The electorate has changed between National and Labour several times, and has been represented by two Christian ministers: Rev Fred Frost and then Rev Ernest Aderman. New Plymouth is generally seen as a marginal seat.
Members of Parliament
Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at a general election.
Key
Independent Liberal United National Labour
List MPs
Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the New Plymouth electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.
Election results
2026 election
The next election will be held on 7 November 2026. Candidates for New Plymouth are listed at Candidates in the 2026 New Zealand general election by electorate § New Plymouth. Official results will be available after 27 November 2026.
2011 election
Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 44,973
1963 election
Social Credit candidate Kenneth "Ken" George Joseph Lattimer failed to lodge his name in time to contest the election.