The Electorate Battles

Over today (and maybe beyond) 'm going to the 70 electorate battles. Helping me in will be the nice graphics above done by the NZ Herald.

Northland

On the party vote National was up around 6% and Labour down 5%. The majority for Carter of around 9,500 is unchanged despite Shane Jones being the candidate. A party vote of over 50% for National is quite exceptional for what is a relatively low income area. Of course some peopel going on the Te Tai Tokerau roll makes the comparison not so simple.

Whangarei

NZ First once almost won this seat, but Heatley has made it his own. The party vote for National hit 50% in a first – up 7% and Labour dropped 8%. Heatley's 9,000 majority has expanded to 13,600 making it one of the safest in the country now.

Rodney

Not too many small handed voters here as Lockwood's majority climbs from under 10,000 to 14,400. The party vote National goes from 52% to 59% and Labour falls from 28% to 21%.

John lifted this party vote from 55% to 65%, and Labour fell from 28% to 18%. And his personal majority went from 12,500 to a stunning 18,500 – the largest in the country I think.

Overall the four north of Auckland averaged 56% party vote for National, making it one of the strongest regions in the country for them, if not the strongest.