Takanini (New Zealand electorate)

Takanini, originally proposed to be called Flat Bush, is an electorate to the New Zealand House of Representatives. It is located in South Auckland and was first created for the 2020 New Zealand general election. Neru Leavasa is the sitting Member of Parliament.

Population centres

The electorate is located in the far south of Auckland, on the edge of the city's built-up area. It stretches from Wattle Downs in its southwest to Mission Heights in the north.[1] It was created out of eastern parts of Manurewa around Goodwood Heights and Greenmeadows, a small part of northeastern Hunua around Mission Heights, and a northern section of Papakura around Takanini and Wattle Downs.[2] This was due to rapid population growth in the area caused mainly by the outward expansion of Auckland.[2]

Electorate profile

South Auckland has traditionally been a stronghold for the Labour Party. Takanini, however, is considered to be a marginal seat between Labour and National, as it takes in both Labour-leaning areas and National-leaning areas.[3] Initially, the electorate's name was proposed as Flat Bush,[4][5] but after a public consultation period, the name was changed.[2][6]

Members of Parliament

  Labour  

Election	Winner
2020 election		Neru Leavasa

List MPs

As of 2020 no candidates who have contested the Takanini electorate have been returned as list MPs. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs' terms began and ended at general elections.

Election results

2020 election

2020 general election: Takanini[7]
Notes:		Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.
Party		Candidate		Votes	%	±%	Party votes	%	±%
	Labour	Neru Leavasa		19,431	53.70		20,022	54.52
	National	Rima Nakhle		11,707	32.35		10,952	29.82
	ACT	Mike McCormick		1,307	3.61		1,688	4.59
	New Conservative	Elliot Ikilei		939	2.59		618	1.68
	TEA	John Hong		902	2.49		211	0.57
	Vision NZ	George Ngatai		361	0.99		183	0.49
	Advance NZ	Mit Kagathra		215	0.59		223	0.60
	Green						1,206	3.28
	NZ First						722	1.96
	Opportunities						219	0.59
	Māori						162	0.44
	Legalise Cannabis						97	0.26
	ONE						69	0.18
	Outdoors						15	0.04
	Sustainable NZ						13	0.03
	Heartland						3	0.01
	Social Credit						2	0.01
Informal votes				1,321			318
Total Valid votes				36,183			36,723
Turnout				36,723
	Labour win new seat		Majority	7,724

References

1. "Map of electorate boundaries for the 2020 and 2023 general elections". 17 April 2020.
2. "Report of the Representation Commission 2020" (PDF). 17 April 2020.
3. "National could take new Flat Bush electorate − academics". 20 November 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
4. "New South Auckland electorate named Flat Bush proposed for 2020 election". 20 November 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
5. "South Auckland's newest electorate: Flat Bush". 17 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
6. Small, Zane (17 April 2020). "Flat Bush was proposed as New Zealand's new electorate but Takanini triumphed". Newshub. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
7. "Takanini - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.