Competitive battleground

Whanganui

General electorate

—

days to election day

What it takes to flip this seat

Carl Bates won by 5,512 votes in 2023. 2,756 voters switching to Labour would have flipped Whanganui.

In the news

Coverage naming Whanganui or Carl, from our tracked feeds.

The roster

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

Won Whanganui by a majority of 5,512 in 2023, making it a competitive seat.

Carl Michael Bates is a New Zealand politician, representing the New Zealand National Party as a Member of Parliament since the 2023 New Zealand general election.

Full MP profile

What Carl has prioritised this term

Official roles, sourced from parliament.nz.

Select committees

Education and Workforce
Justice

Legislative activity this term

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

Members' bills passed into law (1)

Juries (Age of Excusal) Amendment Bill

Members' bill in the ballot (1)

Employment Relations (Mediation Services) Amendment Bill

Battlegrounds map 2026 election

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