New Plymouth (New Zealand electorate)

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.

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.

The electorate includes the following population centres:
 * New Plymouth (57,600)
 * Waitara (6,312)
 * Ōpunake (1,440)
 * Ōakura (1,380)
 * Ōkato (561)

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 ; 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

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.

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.