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Safe battleground

East Coast Bays

General electorate

—
days to election day
Track
What it takes to flip this seat
Erica Stanford
AM

Erica Stanford won by 20,353 votes in 2023. 10,177 voters switching to Green would have flipped East Coast Bays.

In the news

Coverage naming East Coast Bays or Erica, from our tracked feeds.

The roster

The defender's record, and who's confirmed to challenge them in 2026.

Won East Coast Bays by a majority of 20,353 in 2023, making it a safe seat.

Erica Stanford is the Member of Parliament for East Coast Bays. First elected in 2017, she is Minister of Education and Minister of Immigration, and lead coordination minister for the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care.

Full MP profile
What Erica has prioritised this term

Official roles, sourced from parliament.nz.

Spokesperson roles
  • Minister of Education
  • Minister of Immigration
  • Lead Coordination Minister — Abuse in Care Response
Legislative activity this term

From Parliament's official bills record, as at 28 August 2026.

Government bills in charge (7)
  • Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill
  • Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill
  • Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill
  • Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill
  • Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Bill
  • Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2)
Battlegrounds map2026 election

2023 result and margin: Electoral Commission. 2026 candidates are added only once officially confirmed — never assumed.

The Platform· 27 Aug
School Principal Lauds Erica Stanford & Teacher Training Changes
Duncan Garner — Editor-in-Chief· 25 Aug
NZ Social Media Ban: Erica Stanford On Protecting Kids From Big Tech Harms
RNZ· 25 Aug
Government considers effectiveness of teacher education
Stuff· 25 Aug
Labour to back social media ban, National says Stuff poll must’ve swayed them
Beehive (Govt)· 24 Aug
Government moves to ban U16s from social media
Beehive (Govt)· 20 Aug
Closer to home: 20 new specialist classrooms
NZ Herald· 20 Aug
Chris Bishop up, Erica Stanford down after failed leadership coup – Audrey Young