‘It’s in the Ballot’ confirms it will be covering
17 Electorates with In-Studio ‘It’s in the Ballot’
shows across the North Island From Wellington to Hamilton.
We endeavor to break down barriers between candidates and
voters by providing an opportunity for candidates to voice
their message on why they should be elected as an electorate
MP (for their electorate). Voters then have a more informed
chance (either in person or online from the comfort of their
own home) to decide where they should put their electorate
vote for this coming election.
Starting off with
Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Electorate
Square Edge Community Arts Evelyn, Rawlins
Room, on Level 1~(Same place as 2020, 2023 and Local Bodies
2025)
Saturday 10th October 2026
Doors open at
630pm
Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm
Wellington
North Electorate
Khandallah Town Hall &
Cornerstone Community Centre in the main hall ~(Same place
for the Ōhāriu in 2020, 2023 and
Wellington Mayoralty in 2022 and 2025)
Sunday 11th
October 2026
Doors open at 6:30pm
Broadcast Time
from 7pm to 9pm
Rangitīkei Electorate
Te
Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō (Levin Community Centre) ~(Same
place for the Horowhenua Mayoral Race in 2025)
Monday
12th October 2026
Doors open at 3:30pm
Broadcast
Time from 4pm to 6pm
Wellington Bay
Electorate
Te Whare Hapori o Ngā Puna Waiora,
Newtown Community Centre ~(Same place for the Rongotai Shows
in 2020 and 2023)
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Wednesday 14th October
2026
Doors open at 6:30pm
Broadcast Time from
7pm to 9pm
Wairarapa Electorate
Eketahuna
Community Centre, 4 Haswell Street, Eketāhuna
4900
Friday 16th October 2026
Doors open at
6:30pm
Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm
Kenepuru
Electorate
Linden Community Centre,
Tawa
Saturday 17th October 2026
Doors open at
6:30pm
Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm
Remutaka
Electorate
Epuni Community Hall, 40 Mitchell Street,
Epuni, Lower Hutt 5011 ~(Same Venue we filmed Central Ward,
Hutt City Council, 2022 and 2025)
Sunday 18th October
2026
Doors open at 3:30pm
Broadcast Time from
4pm to 6pm
Hutt South Electorate
Epuni
Community Hall, 40 Mitchell Street, Epuni, Lower Hutt 5011
~(Same Venue we filmed Central Ward, Hutt City Council, 2022
and 2025)
Sunday 18th October 2026
Doors open at
6:30pm
Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm
Kapit
Electorate
Kapiti Impact Hub, 6 Tongariro Street,
Paraparaumu 5032 (Same place we did our 2023 Mana Electorate
General election Show and Kapiti Coast Mayoral Race in 2022
and 2025 Local Bodies)
Monday 19th October
2026
Doors open at 6:30pm
Broadcast Time from
7pm to 9pm
Hauraki Waikato Electorate
Free FM
– Independent Community Media
Thursday 22nd October
2026
Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm
Hamilton
East Electorate
Chartwell Cooperating Parish, 126
Comries Rd, Chartwell Hamilton 3210 NEW ZEALAND ~(Please
note a different location from last election)
Friday
23rd October 2026
Doors open at 3:30pm
Broadcast
Time from 4pm to 6pm
Hamilton West
Electorate
Chartwell Cooperating Parish, 126 Comries
Rd, Chartwell Hamilton 3210 NEW ZEALAND ~(Please note a
different location from last election)
Friday 23rd
October 2026
Doors open at 6:30pm
Broadcast Time
from 7pm to 9pm
Waiariki Electorate
Whakatane
Little Theatre, Short Street, Whakatāne 3120 ~(Same
location as the 2025 Whakatane District Council Mayoral
Race)
Sunday 25th October 2026
Doors open at
3:30pm
Broadcast Time from 4pm to 6pm
East Cape
Electorate
Whakatane Little Theatre, Short Street,
Whakatāne 3120 ~(Same location as the 2025 Whakatane
District Council Mayoral Race)
Sunday 25th October
2026
Doors open at 6:30pm
Broadcast Time from
7pm to 9pm
Mount Maunganui
Electorate
Elizabeth Street Community & Arts
Centre, 169 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga 3110 (Same place we
did our 2023 Tauranga Electorate General election Show and
Tauranga Mayoral Race in 2024)
Monday 26th October
2026
Doors open at 3:30pm
Broadcast Time from
4pm to 6pm
Tauranga Electorate
Elizabeth
Street Community & Arts Centre, 169 Elizabeth Street,
Tauranga 3110 (Same place we did our 2023 Tauranga
Electorate General election Show and Tauranga Mayoral Race
in 2024)
Monday 26th October 2026
Doors open at
6:30pm
Broadcast Time from 7pm to 9pm
Rotorua
Electorate
Motion Entertainment, 366 Te Ngae Road,
Lynmore, Rotorua 3010 (Same place we did our 2023 Rotorua
Electorate General election Show and Rotorua Mayoral Race in
2025 Local Bodies)
Tuesday 27th October
2026
Doors open at 6:30pm
Broadcast Time from
7pm to 9pm
All candidates standing in the
aforementioned electorates are welcome to appear in their
electorates’ show, and can register their participation at
www.itsintheballot.nz
Voters
wanting to put questions to the candidates standing, can
also do that at www.itsintheballot.nz
or ring toll free on 0508 Ballot
Candidates who have
already confirmed their attendance
Palmerston
North
- Netra Ghimire –
Opportunity - Helma Vermeulen –
NZFirst
Wellington
North
- Jessica Hammond –
Opportunity - Matthew Hague –
ACT
Rangitīkei
- Steve Gibson –
NZFirst - Bernard Long – Green Party of Aotearoa
NZ
Wellington
Bay
- Julie-Anne Genter – Green Party of
Aotearoa
NZ
Wairarapa
Kenepuru
- Matthew
Evetts – National - Lan Pham – Green Party of Aotearoa
NZ
Hutt South
- Ben Wylie-van
Eerd –
Opportunity
Kapit
Hamilton
East
- Nicola Laboyrie –
NZFirst
Mount Maunganui
- Tom
Rutherford –
National
Tauranga
- Bryan R Norton –
ACT - Sam Connely – Animal Justice
Party
This will be updated as Candidates say yes
throughout the
election
