Ultra-marginal battleground

Taieri

General electorate

—

days to election day

What it takes to flip this seat

Ingrid Leary won by 1,443 votes in 2023. Just 722 voters switching to Alliance would have flipped Taieri.

In the news

Coverage naming Taieri or Ingrid, from our tracked feeds.

The roster

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

Won Taieri by a majority of 1,443 in 2023, making it an ultra-marginal seat.

Ingrid Marieke Leary is a New Zealand politician. In 2020 she was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party.

Full MP profile

What Ingrid has prioritised this term

Official roles, sourced from parliament.nz.

Spokesperson roles

Mental Health
Seniors

Select committees

Health

Legislative activity this term

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

Members' bill in the ballot (1)

Retirement Villages (Fairer Repayments) Amendment Bill

Written questions to Ministers this term

What is this, and why does it matter to you?

Any MP can put a written question to a Minister, demanding information on the record. The Minister must reply, usually within days. It costs nothing and needs no debate, which makes it the main day-to-day tool MPs use to hold the government to account between bills. It matters most for opposition MPs, who can't pass laws but can still force information into the open. Which Ministers an MP questions most, below, is a numbers-based picture of what they watch on your behalf, and it's worth comparing against what they say they prioritise.

2,478written questions asked since the 2023 election

Where it's gone, by Minister

Minister for Mental Health

1083

Minister for Seniors

364

Minister of Health

Battlegrounds map 2026 election

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

Read 5 recent questions & replies, in Ingrid’s and the Minister’s own words

To the Minister for Seniors · 2026-08-18

"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 10 August 2026, by title and date?"

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Mental Health · 2026-08-18

"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 10 August 2026, by title and date?"

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Seniors · 2026-08-18

"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 10 August 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Seniors · 2026-08-10

"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 3 August 2026, by title and date?"

Reply: As Minister for Seniors, none.

To the Minister of Justice · 2026-08-10

"Is he concerned, given the finding on Lake Alice Hospital by the United Nations Committee Against Torture, that New Zealand had breached the Convention for failing to properly investigate under Article 12 of the Convention, that NZ will again be in breach of the UN Committee Against Torture for failing to properly investigate Wakari Hospital Ward 10A?"

Reply: The Ombudsman carried out an inspection of Wakari Hospital Ward 10A in its role as the National Preventive Mechanism under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It is appropriate for the responsible agency to respond to concerns raised by the National Preventive Mechanism in the first instance. I understand that the Ministry of Health has responded swiftly to the Ombudsman’s concer…