Christchurch Central

The 1941 New Zealand census had been postponed due to World War II, so the 1946 electoral redistribution had to take ten years of population growth and movements into account. The North Island gained a further two electorates from the South Island due to faster population growth. The abolition of the country quota through the Electoral Amendment Act, 1945 reduced the number and increased the size of rural electorates. None of the existing electorates remained unchanged, 27 electorates were abolished, eight former electorates were re-established, and 19 electorates were created for the first time, including Christchurch Central.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=91–96}}

As the name suggests, the electorate covers the Christchurch Central City, plus several inner suburbs to the north and east of the central city. Since the 2008 election, the following suburbs, in alphabetical order, are at least partially located in the electorate: Avonside, Central City, Edgeware, Linwood, Mairehau, Merivale, North Linwood, Northcote, Papanui, Phillipstown, Redwood, Richmond, Shirley, St Albans, Sydenham, and Waltham.{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.org.nz/mapping/ |title= Electorate Boundaries |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date= 24 November 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130208035645/http://www.elections.org.nz/mapping/ |archive-date= 8 February 2013 |url-status= dead }} In the 2013/14 redistribution, the electorate lost Mairehau and Shirley to Christchurch East and gained more of Sydenham and Beckenham from Port Hills and more of Redwood from Waimakariri.{{cite book |title=Report of the Representation Commission 2014 |url=http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/bulk-upload/documents/report_of_the_representation_commission_2014.pdf |isbn=978-0-477-10414-2 |publisher=Representation Commission |access-date=26 September 2014 |page=10 |date=4 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006075102/http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/bulk-upload/documents/report_of_the_representation_commission_2014.pdf |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}

The Christchurch Central electorate was created in 1946.{{cite book |last= Scholefield |first= Guy |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 |author-link=Guy Scholefield |edition=3rd |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1950 |publisher=Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |page=156}} Labour held the seat for the next 65 years, though a high turnout for the Alliance saw Tim Barnett's 1996 majority come in at under a thousand. The incumbent, Brendon Burns, had a majority in the 2008 election of also just under one thousand.[http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/2/5/c/49MP127001-Burns-Brendon.htm New Zealand Parliament — Brendon Burns MP]

The first representative was Robert Macfarlane, who had earlier represented the Christchurch South electorate. He held Christchurch Central until the {{NZ election link|1969}}, when he retired. He was succeeded by Bruce Barclay, who died in office in 1979. This caused the {{By-election link|Christchurch Central|1979}} held on 18 August, which was won by Geoffrey Palmer. Palmer eventually went on to become Prime Minister.{{cite web|title=Geoffrey Palmer|url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/geoffrey-palmer|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=19 November 2011|date=9 July 2010}}

Palmer retired at the {{NZ election link|1990}} and was succeeded by Lianne Dalziel. At the {{NZ election link|1996}}, i.e. with the advent of MMP, Dalziel did not contest an electorate but stood as a list candidate only. Tim Barnett succeeded her and held the electorate until the {{NZ election link|2008}}, when he retired. Brendon Burns succeeded Barnett.

The election night results for the {{NZ election link|2011}} resulted in a tie; Burns and Nicky Wagner of the National Party received 10,493 votes each. The outcome of the election thus depended on the special votes.{{cite news |title=Unprecedented dead heat in ChCh central |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/election-2011/6041292/Unprecedented-dead-heat-in-ChCh-central |access-date=26 November 2011 |work=The Press |date=26 November 2011}} This was the first time a tie result had been achieved since 1928.{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/election-2011/nail-biting-dead-heat-in-christchurch-4573847|title=Nail-biting dead heat in Christchurch|date=27 November 2011|access-date=13 August 2013}} When the final vote count was announced on 10 December, Wagner was declared the winner with a majority of 45 over Burns, making the result the second-smallest majority after {{NZ electorate link|Waitakere}}. Due to the closeness of the results a judicial recount was held where Wagner's majority increased by 2 votes to 47.{{cite news |title=Election results to declare new Govt |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10772192 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=10 December 2011 |access-date=12 December 2011}}{{cite news| url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6137499/Recount-confirms-Christchurch-central-seat |title=Recount confirms Christchurch central seat |first=Kate |last=Chapman |date=14 December 2011 |publisher=Stuff |access-date=21 September 2014}}

When draft electoral boundary changes were released, Wagner declared the electorate "unwinnable" for National. Although she was expected to not contest the 2014 general election, she announced at the end of January 2014 that she would try to defend her seat.{{cite news |last=Conway |first=Glenn |title=Wagner to defend Chch Central seat |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9667063/Wagner-to-defend-Chch-Central-seat |access-date=8 March 2014 |work=The Press |date=30 January 2014}} Labour chose Tony Milne as their candidate for Christchurch Central.{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Shelley |title=Tony Milne to run for Chch Central |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/city-centre/9806538/Tony-Milne-to-run-for-Chch-Central |access-date=8 March 2014 |work=The Press |date=8 March 2014}} Wagner had a 2,420 majority over Milne.{{cite news |last1=Mathewson |first1=Nicole |last2=Stylianou |first2=Georgina |last3=Fulton |first3=Tim |title=Election 2014: Canterbury decides |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/10524525/Election-2014-Canterbury-decides |access-date=21 September 2014 |work=The Press |date=21 September 2014}} The Labour Party chose Duncan Webb as its candidate for the 2017 general election. He is a prominent lawyer and earthquake claims advocate.{{cite news |last1=Stylianou |first1=Georgina |title=Claims advocate to seek election |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/80967343/lawyer-duncan-webb-confirmed-as-labours-christchurch-central-candidate |access-date=4 May 2016 |work=The Press |date=4 May 2016 |page=A7}} Webb narrowly won the seat in 2017, and massively increased his majority at the {{NZ election link|2020}} amid that year's Labour landslide.

Christchurch Central has been represented by eight MPs. Since its creation in 1946 until the 2011 general election it had been a safe seat for the Labour Party. It was then held by the National Party until the 2017 general election when it swung back to Labour.

Key

{{Party index link|New Zealand Labour Party}} {{Party index link|Alliance (New Zealand political party)}} {{Party index link|New Zealand First}} {{Party index link|New Zealand National Party}}

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Christchurch Central electorate.

{{MMP election box begin |title=2023 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web| url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-05.html |title=Christchurch Central – Official Result |access-date=9 November 2023 |publisher=Electoral Commission }} }}

{{MMP election box incumbent win|

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Duncan Webb

|votes = 15,553

|percentage = 39.68

|change = -19.60

|party votes = 11,357

|party percent = 28.49

|party change = -24.73

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Dale Stephens

|votes = 13,712

|percentage = 34.98

|change = +10.62

|party votes = 12,403

|party percent = 31.11

|party change = +11.66

}}

{{MMP election box candidate list|

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Kahurangi Carter

|votes = 5,441

|percentage = 13.88

|change = +7.49

|party votes = 7,746

|party percent = 19.43

|party change = +6.74

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = New Zealand First

|candidate = Mark Arneil

|votes = 1,563

|percentage = 3.98

|change = +2.63

|party votes = 2,073

|party percent = 5.20

|party change = +3.08

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Matthew Fisken

|votes = 1,395

|percentage = 3.55

|change = +0.90

|party votes = 2,646

|party percent = 6.63

|party change = +0.48

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|candidate = Michael Britnell

|votes = 680

|percentage = 1.73

|change = -0.01

|party votes = 174

|party percent = 0.43

|party change = -0.20

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Animal Justice Party Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Sarah Jackson

|votes = 376

|percentage = 0.95

|change =

|party votes = 106

|party percent = 0.26

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = The Opportunities Party

|party votes = 2,042

|party percent = 5.12

|party change = +2.93

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Te Pāti Māori

|party votes = 405

|party percent = 1.01

|party change = +0.66

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand Loyal

|party votes = 253

|party percent = 0.63

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = NewZeal

|party votes = 108

|party percent = 0.27

|party change = +0.04

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = DemocracyNZ

|party votes = 82

|party percent = 0.20

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Conservative Party (New Zealand)

|party votes = 78

|party percent = 0.19

|party change = -0.98

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Freedoms New Zealand

|party votes = 71

|party percent = 0.17

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Women's Rights Party

|party votes = 59

|party percent = 0.14

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Leighton Baker Party

|party votes = 51

|party percent = 0.12

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Nation Party

|party votes = 36

|party percent = 0.09

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote|

|votes = 472

|party votes = 166

}}

{{MMP election box total vote|

|votes = 39,192

|party votes = 39,856

}}

{{MMP election box turnout|

|turnout = 39,856

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box majority hold|

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|votes = 1,841

|percent = 4.56

|change = -30.36

}}

{{MMP election box begin |title=2020 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web |title=Christchurch Central – Official Result

|url= https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-05.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |date= n.d.|access-date=9 January 2021}}

}}

{{MMP election box incumbent win

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Duncan Webb

|votes = 23,931

|percentage = 59.28

|change = +11.81

|party votes = 21,681

|party percent = 53.22

|party change = +12.65

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Dale Stephens

|votes = 9,833

|percentage = 24.36

|change = −14.91

|party votes = 7,921

|party percent = 19.45

|party change = −19.49

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Chrys Horn

|votes = 2,566

|percentage = 6.36

|change = +0.78

|party votes = 5,168

|party percent = 12.69

|party change = +2.95

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Abigail Johnson

|votes = 1,071

|percentage = 2.65

|change = —

|party votes = 2,507

|party percent = 6.15

|party change = +5.72

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|candidate = Michael Britnell

|votes = 704

|percentage = 1.74

|change = +0.88

|party votes = 257

|party percent = 0.63

|party change = +0.33

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = New Zealand First

|candidate = Mark Arneil

|votes = 544

|percentage = 1.35

|change = -1.76

|party votes = 862

|party percent = 2.12

|party change = −3.09

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = New Conservative Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Benjamin Price

|votes = 430

|percentage = 1.07

|change = —

|party votes = 478

|party percent = 1.17

|party change = +0.91

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Advance New Zealand

|candidate = Carole Church

|votes = 355

|percentage = 0.88

|change = —

|party votes = 325

|party percent = 0.80

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = ONE Party

|candidate = Ken Webb

|votes = 143

|percentage = 0.35

|change = —

|party votes = 92

|party percent = 0.23

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box independent|

|candidate = Hayden Laurie

|votes = 93

|percentage = 0.23

|change = —

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = The Opportunities Party

|party votes = 887

|party percent = 2.19

|party change = −1.29

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Māori Party

|party votes = 142

|party percent = 0.35

|party change = −0.03

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = New Zealand Outdoors Party

|party votes = 24

|party percent = 0.06

|party change = +0.01

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Sustainable New Zealand Party

|party votes = 24

|party percent = 0.06

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Vision NZ

|party votes = 22

|party percent = 0.05

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|party votes = 20

|party percent = 0.05

|party change = +0.04

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = New Zealand TEA Party

|party votes = 11

|party percent = 0.03

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Heartland New Zealand Party

|party votes = 2

|party percent = 0.005

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote

|votes = 699

|party votes = 312

}}

{{MMP election box total vote

|votes = 40,369

|party votes = 40,735

}}

{{MMP election box turnout

|turnout = 40,735

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box majority hold

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|votes = 14,098

|percent = 34.92

|change = +26.72

}}

{{MMP election box begin |title=2017 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web |title=Official Count Results – Christchurch Central (2017) |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-04.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |date=7 October 2017 |access-date=12 October 2017}}

}}

{{MMP election box candidate win

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Duncan Webb

|votes = 16,631

|percentage = 47.47

|change = +8.54

|party votes = 14,541

|party percent = 40.57

|party change = +14.31

}}

{{MMP election box incumbent list

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Nicky Wagner

|votes = 13,760

|percentage = 39.27

|change = −6.95

|party votes = 13,956

|party percent = 38.94

|party change = −5.72

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Peter Richardson

|votes = 1,957

|percentage = 5.58

|change = −2.85

|party votes = 3,492

|party percent = 9.74

|party change = −6.08

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = New Zealand First

|candidate = Phil Robinson

|votes = 1,091

|percentage = 3.11

|change = −0.64

|party votes = 1,869

|party percent = 5.21

|party change = −1.98

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = The Opportunities Party

|candidate = Doug Hill

|votes = 879

|percentage = 2.50

|change = —

|party votes = 1,246

|party percent = 3.47

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|candidate = Janine Shufflebotham

|votes = 304

|percentage = 0.86

|change = —

|party votes = 108

|party percent = 0.30

|party change = −0.18

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = United Future

|candidate = Ian Gaskin

|votes = 80

|percentage = 0.22

|change = —

|party votes = 45

|party percent = 0.12

|party change = −0.05

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = ACT New Zealand

|party votes = 155

|party percent = 0.43

|party change = −0.06

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Māori Party

|party votes = 139

|party percent = 0.38

|party change = −0.08

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Conservative Party (New Zealand)

|party votes = 94

|party percent = 0.26

|party change = −2.85

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = New Zealand Outdoors Party

|party votes = 21

|party percent = 0.05

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Ban 1080 Party

|party votes = 21

|party percent = 0.05

|party change = −0.03

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = New Zealand People's Party

|party votes = 16

|party percent = 0.04

|party change = —

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Mana Party

|party votes = 11

|party percent = 0.03

|party change = −1.00{{efn|name=Mana Party|2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election}}

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Internet Party (New Zealand)

|party votes = 8

|party percent = 0.02

|party change = −1.01{{efn|name=Internet Party|2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election}}

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit

|party votes = 5

|party percent = 0.01

|party change = −0.08

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote

|votes = 331

|party votes = 111

}}

{{MMP election box total vote

|votes = 35,033

|party votes = 35,838

}}

{{MMP election box turnout

|turnout = 36,220

|percentage = 81.01{{cite web|url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/statistics/party-votes-and-turnout-by-electorate.html|title=Party Votes and Turnout by Electorate |access-date=27 January 2018|publisher=Electoral Commission}}

|change = +2.51

}}

{{MMP election box majority gain

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|loser = New Zealand National Party

|votes = 2,871

|percent = 8.20

|change = +15.49

}}

{{MMP election box begin |title=2014 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web | url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2014/electorate-4.html | title=Official Count Results – Christchurch Central | access-date=5 May 2016 | date=10 October 2014 |publisher=Electoral Commission}}

}}

{{MMP election box incumbent win

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Nicky Wagner

|votes = 15,346

|percentage = 46.22

|change = +1.69

|party votes = 15,301

|party percent = 44.66

|party change = +0.03

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Tony Milne

|votes = 12,926

|percentage = 38.93

|change = −5.43

|party votes = 8,995

|party percent = 26.25

|party change = −3.15

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = David Moorhouse

|votes = 2,800

|percentage = 8.43

|change = −0.14

|party votes = 5,419

|party percent = 15.82

|party change = −0.44

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = New Zealand First

|candidate = George Abraham

|votes = 1,245

|percentage = 3.75

|change = +3.75

|party votes = 2,462

|party percent = 7.19

|party change = +2.23

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Conservative Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Michael Cooke

|votes = 598

|percentage = 1.80

|change = +0.18

|party votes = 1,065

|party percent = 3.11

|party change = +1.37

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Toni Severin

|votes = 122

|percentage = 0.37

|change = −0.04

|party votes = 167

|party percent = 0.49

|party change = −0.29

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Māori Party

|candidate = Lenis Davidson

|votes = 109

|percentage = 0.33

|change = +0.33

|party votes = 157

|party percent = 0.46

|party change = −0.04

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit

|candidate = Robin Columbus

|votes = 57

|percentage = 0.17

|change = +0.17

|party votes = 30

|party percent = 0.09

|party change = +0.06

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Internet Party and MANA Movement

|party votes = 353

|party percent = 1.03

|party change = +0.67{{efn|name=Internet Mana|2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for Mana in 2011; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.}}

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|party votes = 165

|party percent = 0.48

|party change = −0.16

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = United Future

|party votes = 79

|party percent = 0.23

|party change = −0.31

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = The Civilian Party

|party votes = 40

|party percent = 0.12

|party change = +0.12

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Ban 1080 Party

|party votes = 27

|party percent = 0.08

|party change = +0.08

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = NZ Independent Coalition

|party votes = 3

|party percent = 0.01

|party change = +0.01

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Focus NZ

|party votes = 1

|party percent = 0.00

|party change = +0.00

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote

|votes = 281

|party votes = 108

}}

{{MMP election box total vote

|votes = 33,203

|party votes = 34,264

}}

{{MMP election box turnout

|turnout = 34,480

|percentage = 78.01

|change = +6.32

}}

{{MMP election box majority hold

|winner = New Zealand National Party

|votes = 2,420

|percent = 7.29

|change = +7.12

}}

{{MMP election box begin |title=2011 general election: Christchurch Central[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/electorate-4.html Christchurch Central results, 2011]}}

{{MMP election box list win|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Nicky Wagner

|votes = 12,064

|percentage = 44.53

|change = +3.61

|party votes = 12,506

|party percent = 44.63

|party change = +7.05

}}

{{MMP election box incumbent lose|

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brendon Burns

|votes = 12,017

|percentage = 44.36

|change = +0.52

|party votes = 8,240

|party percent = 29.40

|party change = -9.96

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = David Moorhouse

|votes = 2,321

|percentage = 8.57

|change = +0.14

|party votes = 4,556

|party percent = 16.26

|party change = +5.09

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Conservative Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Michael Cooke

|votes = 439

|percentage = 1.62

|change = +1.62

|party votes = 487

|party percent = 1.74

|party change = +1.74

}}

{{MMP election box independent|

|candidate = Luke Chandler

|votes = 138

|percentage = 0.51

|change = +0.51

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Toni Severin

|votes = 110

|percentage = 0.41

|change = -1.09

|party votes = 219

|party percent = 0.78

|party change = -1.93

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand First

|party votes = 1,391

|party percent = 4.96

|party change = +1.83

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|party votes = 180

|party percent = 0.64

|party change = +0.08

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = United Future

|party votes = 151

|party percent = 0.54

|party change = -0.18

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Māori Party

|party votes = 139

|party percent = 0.50

|party change = -0.20

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Mana Party (New Zealand)

|party votes = 100

|party percent = 0.36

|party change = +0.36

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|party votes = 24

|party percent = 0.09

|party change = -0.04

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Libertarianz

|party votes = 22

|party percent = 0.08

|party change = +0.01

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit

|party votes = 9

|party percent = 0.03

|party change = -0.02

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote|

|votes = 532

|party votes = 237

}}

{{MMP election box total vote|

|votes = 27,089

|party votes = 28,024

}}

{{MMP election box majority gain|

|winner = New Zealand National Party

|loser = New Zealand Labour Party

|votes = 47

|percent = 0.17

|change = +3.08

}}

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 39,419{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.org.nz/ages/ |title= Enrolment statistics |publisher=Electoral Commission |date= 11 November 2011 |access-date= 17 November 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111110032655/http://www.elections.org.nz/ages/ |archive-date= 10 November 2011 |url-status= dead }}

{{MMP election box begin |title=2008 general election: Christchurch Central[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/electorate-4.html Official Count Results – Christchurch Central 2008]}}

{{MMP election box candidate win|

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brendon Burns

|votes = 14,078

|percentage = 43.83

|change = -8.74

|party votes = 12,999

|party percent = 39.36

|party change = -8.95

}}

{{MMP election box candidate list|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Nicky Wagner

|votes = 13,143

|percentage = 40.92

|change = +11.65

|party votes = 12,409

|party percent = 37.58

|party change = +7.07

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Jan McLauchlan

|votes = 2,708

|percentage = 8.43

|change = +1.78

|party votes = 3,688

|party percent = 11.17

|party change = +1.47

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = New Zealand Progressive Party

|candidate = Somnath Bagchi

|votes = 598

|percentage = 1.86

|change = -1.34

|party votes = 697

|party percent = 2.11

|party change = +0.25

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|candidate = Michael Britnell

|votes = 487

|percentage = 1.52

|change = –

|party votes = 187

|party percent = 0.57

|party change = +0.20

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Toni Severin

|votes = 482

|percentage = 1.50

|change = +0.49

|party votes = 897

|party percent = 2.72

|party change = +1.66

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = The Kiwi Party

|candidate = Andrew Beaven

|votes = 353

|percentage = 1.10

|change = –

|party votes = 218

|party percent = 0.66

|party change = –

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Workers Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Byron Clark{{efn|name=Clark|Byron Clark contested the seat in the 2005 election for the same party, which was then called the Anti-Capitalist Alliance.}}

|votes = 164

|percentage = 0.51

|change = +0.24

|party votes = 33

|party percent = 0.10

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|candidate = Greg Kleis

|votes = 103

|percentage = 0.32

|change = –

|party votes = 41

|party percent = 0.12

|party change = +0.01

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand First

|party votes = 1,036

|party percent = 3.14

|party change = -0.90

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = United Future

|party votes = 239

|party percent = 0.72

|party change = -2.32

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Māori Party

|party votes = 230

|party percent = 0.70

|party change = 0.36

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Bill and Ben Party

|party votes = 187

|party percent = 0.57

|party change = –

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = The Family Party

|party votes = 87

|party percent = 0.26

|party change = –

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand Pacific Party

|candidate = –

|votes =

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 31

|party percent = 0.09

|party change = –

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Libertarianz

|party votes = 21

|party percent = 0.06

|party change = +0.04

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand Democratic Party

|party votes = 16

|party percent = 0.05

|party change = +0.00

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = The Republic of New Zealand Party

|party votes = 5

|party percent = 0.02

|party change = +0.00

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Residents Action Movement

|party votes = 2

|party percent = 0.01

|party change = –

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote|

|votes = 306

|party votes = 119

}}

{{MMP election box total vote|

|votes = 32,116

|party votes = 33,023

}}

{{MMP election box majority hold|

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|votes = 935

|percent = 2.91

|change = -20.38

}}

{{MMP election box begin |title=2005 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-5.html |title=Official Count Results – Christchurch Central |access-date=8 March 2014 | publisher=Electoral Commission |date= 1 October 2005}}

}}

{{MMP election box incumbent win|

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Tim Barnett

|votes = 17,685

|percentage = 52.57

|change =

|party votes = 16,652

|party percent = 48.31

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate list|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Nicky Wagner

|votes = 9,849

|percentage = 29.28

|change =

|party votes = 10,515

|party percent = 30.51

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Natalie Cutler-Welsh

|votes = 2,236

|percentage = 6.65

|change =

|party votes = 3,342

|party percent = 9.70

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Jim Anderton's Progressive Party

|candidate = Megan Woods

|votes = 1,077

|percentage = 3.20

|change =

|party votes = 643

|party percent = 1.87

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = New Zealand First

|candidate = Kevin Gardener

|votes = 1,022

|percentage = 3.04

|change =

|party votes = 1,391

|party percent = 4.04

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = United Future

|candidate = John van Buren

|votes = 761

|percentage = 2.26

|change =

|party votes = 1,048

|party percent = 3.04

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Shirley Marshall

|votes = 340

|percentage = 1.01

|change =

|party votes = 364

|party percent = 1.06

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Destiny New Zealand

|candidate = Anita Breach

|votes = 338

|percentage = 1.01

|change =

|party votes = 144

|party percent = 0.42

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Māori Party

|candidate = Darryl Gregory

|votes = 188

|percentage = 0.56

|change =

|party votes = 116

|party percent = 0.34

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate only|

|party = Anti-Capitalist Alliance

|candidate = Byron Clark

|votes = 90

|percentage = 0.27

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate only|

|party = Communist League (New Zealand)

|candidate = Annalucia Vermunt

|votes = 53

|percentage = 0.16

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|party votes = 125

|party percent = 0.36

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|party votes = 40

|party percent = 0.12

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Christian Heritage New Zealand

|party votes = 37

|party percent = 0.11

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit

|party votes = 15

|party percent = 0.04

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = 99 MP Party

|party votes = 10

|party percent = 0.03

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Libertarianz

|party votes = 9

|party percent = 0.03

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand

|party votes = 7

|party percent = 0.02

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = The Republic of New Zealand Party

|party votes = 5

|party percent = 0.01

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand Family Rights Protection Party

|party votes = 4

|party percent = 0.01

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = One New Zealand Party

|party votes = 2

|party percent = 0.01

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote|

|votes = 410

|party votes = 193

}}

{{MMP election box total vote|

|votes = 33,639

|party votes = 34,469

}}

{{MMP election box majority hold|

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|votes = 7,836

|percent =

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box begin

|title=2002 general election: Christchurch Central[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2002/electorate-5.html 2002 election results]

}}

{{MMP election box incumbent win|

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Tim Barnett

|votes = 17,190

|percentage =56.2

|change =

|party votes = 13,853

|party percent =43.4

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Nicky Wagner

|votes = 6,837

|percentage =22.4

|change =

|party votes = 5,338

|party percent =17.0

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Matt Morris

|votes = 1,791

|percentage =5.9

|change =

|party votes = 3,479

|party percent =11.1

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = United Future

|candidate = Stephen Russell

|votes = 1,160

|percentage =3.8

|change =

|party votes = 2,118

|party percent =6.8

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Christian Heritage Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Vic Pollard

|votes = 874

|percentage =2.9

|change =

|party votes = 430

|party percent =1.4

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Anthony Watson

|votes = 762

|percentage =2.5

|change =

|party votes = 1,845

|party percent =5.9

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Jim Anderton's Progressive Party

|candidate = Fleur Churton

|votes = 761

|percentage =2.5

|change =

|party votes = 930

|party percent =3.0

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|candidate = Liz Gordon

|votes = 635

|percentage =2.1

|change =

|party votes = 598

|party percent =1.9

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|candidate = Jeanette Saxby

|votes = 469

|percentage =1.5

|change =

|party votes = 327

|party percent =1.0

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box minor party candidate|

|color={{party color|Communist League (New Zealand)}}

|party = Communist League

|candidate = Appu Baskaran

|votes = 99

|percentage =0.3

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand First

|party votes = 2,106

|party percent =6.7

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Outdoor Recreation New Zealand

|party votes = 280

|party percent =0.9

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = One New Zealand Party

|party votes = 16

|party percent =0.1

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Mana Māori Movement

|party votes = 10

|party percent =<0.1

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = NMP (political party)

|party votes = 3

|party percent =(0.1

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote|

|votes = 516

|party votes = 135

}}

{{MMP election box total vote|

|votes = 30,578

|party votes = 31,333

}}

{{MMP election box majority hold|

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|votes = 10,353

|percent =

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box begin

|title=1999 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web |url=http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partIV.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114185916/http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partIV.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2015 |title=Official Count Results (1999) – Electoral Votes for registered parties by electorate |work=NZ Electoral Commission |access-date=23 September 2017 }}{{cite web |url=http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partVIII.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114190019/http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partVIII.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2015 |title=Official Count Results (1999) – Candidate Vote Details |work=NZ Electoral Commission |access-date=23 September 2017 }}}}

{{MMP election box incumbent win|

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Tim Barnett

|votes = 17,229

|percentage = 52.80

|change =

|party votes = 13,407

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = John Stringer

|votes = 7,825

|percentage = 23.98

|change =

|party votes = 8,887

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate list|

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|candidate = Liz Gordon

|votes = 2,690

|percentage = 8.24

|change =

|party votes = 3,369

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Diana Pennell

|votes = 1,658

|percentage = 5.08

|change =

|party votes = 2,421

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Katherine Sillars

|votes = 951

|percentage = 2.91

|change =

|party votes = 1,731

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Christian Heritage Party of New Zealand

|candidate = John Bryant

|votes = 689

|percentage = 2.11

|change =

|party votes = 695

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = New Zealand First

|candidate = John Ballantyne

|votes = 641

|percentage = 1.96

|change =

|party votes = 880

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Future New Zealand

|candidate = Daryl Gregory

|votes = 481

|percentage = 1.47

|change =

|party votes = 423

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = McGillicuddy Serious Party

|candidate = Cecil G. Murgatroyd

|votes = 232

|percentage = 0.71

|change =

|party votes = 56

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box independent|

|candidate = David Ball

|votes = 132

|percentage = 0.40

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box minor party candidate|

|color={{party color|Communist League (New Zealand)}}

|party = Communist League

|candidate = Ruth Gray

|votes = 51

|percentage = 0.16

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box minor party candidate|

|color = #D08913

|party = National Democrats

|candidate = Anton Foljambe

|votes = 44

|percentage = 0.13

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box minor party candidate|

|color = #5ED7B4

|party = Dominion Workers

|candidate = Clifford Mundy

|votes = 9

|percentage = 0.03

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|party votes = 584

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = United New Zealand

|party votes = 154

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Libertarianz

|party votes = 132

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = NZ South Island Party

|party votes = 69

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Animals First

|party votes = 58

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Natural Law Party of New Zealand

|party votes = 17

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Mauri Pacific

|party votes = 7

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = One New Zealand Party

|party votes = 7

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand Republican Party (1995)

|party votes = 7

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Mana Māori Movement

|party votes = 6

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = NMP (political party)

|party votes = 4

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|party = Freedom Movement

|color = #CDE

|party votes = 2

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|color=#639

|party = People's Choice Party

|party votes = 2

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote|

|votes =

|party votes = 267

}}

{{MMP election box total vote|

|votes =

|party votes = 32,918

}}

{{MMP election box majority hold|

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|loser = New Zealand National Party

|votes = 9,404

|percent =

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box begin

|title=1996 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/6.1%20Christchurch%20Central%2006.pdf |title=Electorate Candidate and Party Votes Recorded at Each Polling Place – Christchurch Central, 1996 |access-date=9 July 2013 }}{{cite web|title=Part III – Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.3%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Successful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=22 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208054410/http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.3%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Successful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf |archive-date=8 February 2013 }}{{cite web|title=Part III – Party Lists of unsuccessful Registered Parties |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.4%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Unsuccessful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=22 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208054417/http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.4%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Unsuccessful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf |archive-date=8 February 2013 }}

}}

{{MMP election box candidate win|

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Tim Barnett

|votes = 9,689

|percentage = 32.28

|change =

|party votes = 9,967

|party percent = 32.79

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Kerry Sullivan

|votes = 9,036

|percentage = 30.10

|change =

|party votes = 9,355

|party percent = 30.77

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate list|

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|candidate = Liz Gordon

|votes = 6,377

|percentage = 21.25

|change =

|party votes = 4,372

|party percent = 14.38

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate list|

|party = New Zealand First

|candidate = Ron Mark

|votes = 3,067

|percentage = 10.22

|change =

|party votes = 2,434

|party percent = 8.01

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Matthew Ball

|votes = 953

|percentage = 3.18

|change =

|party votes = 1,517

|party percent = 4.99

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party candidate|

|party = Progressive Greens

|color = #399

|candidate = Gillian Baillie

|votes = 386

|percentage = 1.29

|change =

|party votes = 106

|party percent = 0.35

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|candidate = Jacinta Grice

|party = United New Zealand

|votes = 224

|percentage = 0.75

|change =

|party votes = 226

|party percent = 0.74

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Natural Law Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Raymond Cain

|votes = 112

|percentage = 0.37

|change =

|party votes = 66

|party percent = 0.22

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box independent|

|candidate = David Christopher Ball

|votes = 102

|percentage = 0.34

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box minor party candidate|

|color = {{party color|Communist League (New Zealand)}}

|party = Communist League

|candidate = Patrick Brown

|votes = 69

|percentage = 0.23

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Christian Coalition (New Zealand)

|party votes = 1,162

|party percent = 3.82

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|party votes = 931

|party percent = 3.06

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = McGillicuddy Serious Party

|party votes = 102

|party percent = 0.34

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Animals First

|party votes = 85

|party percent = 0.28

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|color = #366

|party = Green Society

|party votes = 19

|party percent = 0.06

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|color = #ABC

|party = Superannuitants & Youth

|party votes = 16

|party percent = 0.05

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Mana Māori Movement

|party votes = 11

|party percent = 0.04

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|color = #F93

|party = Ethnic Minority Party

|party votes = 10

|party percent = 0.03

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|color = #007

|party = Conservatives

|party votes = 8

|party percent = 0.03

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Libertarianz

|party votes = 7

|party percent = 0.02

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|party = Advance New Zealand

|color = #ADC

|party votes = 3

|party percent = 0.01

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|color = #3F9

|party = Asia Pacific United

|party votes = 1

|party percent = 0.00

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box historic party only|

|color = #C96

|party = Te Tawharau

|party votes = 1

|party percent = 0.00

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote|

|votes = 476

|party votes = 92

}}

{{MMP election box total vote|

|votes = 30,015

|party votes = 30,399

}}

{{MMP election box majority hold|

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|votes = 653

|percent = 2.18

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=1993 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite tech report |ref={{sfnref|Election results|1993}} |title=Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place |publisher=New Zealand Chief Electoral Office |year=1993 |pages=12, 161}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Lianne Dalziel

|votes = 9,841

|percentage = 55.21

|change = +6.69

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Andrew Rowe

|votes = 3,652

|percentage = 20.49

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|candidate = Michael Vercoe

|votes = 3,501

|percentage = 19.64

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Christian Heritage Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Tony Le Cren

|votes = 413

|percentage = 2.32

|change = +0.06

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = McGillicuddy Serious Party

|candidate = Kieran Kelly

|votes = 240

|percentage = 1.35

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Natural Law Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Glenda Martin

|votes = 126

|percentage = 0.71

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist League (New Zealand)

|candidate = Carmen Bain

|votes = 52

|percentage = 0.29

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 6,189

|percentage = 34.72

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 764

|percentage = 4.11

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 18,589

|percentage = 82.61

|change = +3.70

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 22,502

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{election box begin |title=1990 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite tech report |ref={{sfnref|Election results|1990}} |title=Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place |publisher=New Zealand Chief Electoral Office |year=1990 |pages=17}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Lianne Dalziel

|votes = 8,487

|percentage = 48.52

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Ross Gluer

|votes = 4,718

|percentage = 26.97

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = NewLabour Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Sidonie Bradbury-Moore

|votes = 1,963

|percentage = 11.22

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Ruth Gardner

|votes = 1,541

|percentage = 8.81

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Christian Heritage Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Tony Le Cren

|votes = 396

|percentage = 2.26

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democrats for Social Credit

|candidate = Joe Pounsford

|votes = 164

|percentage = 0.93

|change = -2.27

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = McGillicuddy Serious Party

|candidate = Shane Dion Murphy

|votes = 101

|percentage = 0.57

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit-NZ

|candidate = Neville Minchington

|votes = 94

|percentage = 0.53

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist League (New Zealand)

|candidate = Brigid Rotheram

|votes = 27

|percentage = 0.15

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,769

|percentage = 21.54

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 17,491

|percentage = 78.91

|change = -3.33

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 22,163

}}

{{End}}

{{Election box begin | title=1987 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=206}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Geoffrey Palmer

|votes = 11,836

|percentage = 65.28

|change = +1.92

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Graham Burnett

|votes = 5,031

|percentage = 27.75

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democrats for Social Credit

|candidate = Joe Pounsford

|votes = 557

|percentage = 3.07

|change = +0.06

}}

{{Election box candidate minor party

|color = {{party color|Independent Liberal}}

|party = Breakfast Party

|candidate = James Daniels

|votes = 235

|percentage = 1.29

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate minor party

|color = {{party color|Communist League (New Zealand)}}

|party = Socialist Action

|candidate = Felicity Brereton

|votes = 196

|percentage = 1.08

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate minor party

|color = {{party color|Imperial British Conservative Party}}

|party = Wizard Party

|candidate = David Hanlon

|votes = 119

|percentage = 0.65

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Values Party

|candidate = Stephen Symons

|votes = 85

|percentage = 0.46

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Party

|candidate = Lynn Yeoman

|votes = 70

|percentage = 0.38

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 6,805

|percentage = 37.53

|change = -2.72

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 18,129

|percentage = 82.24

|change = -7.32

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 22,043

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1984 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=206}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Geoffrey Palmer

|votes = 13,394

|percentage = 63.36

|change = +0.11

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Tony Willy

|votes = 4,886

|percentage = 23.11

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Party

|candidate = Murray Ludemann

|votes = 2,072

|percentage = 9.80

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Joe Pounsford

|votes = 662

|percentage = 3.13

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Suzanne Sadler

|votes = 123

|percentage = 0.58

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 8,508

|percentage = 40.25

|change = -0.94

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 21,137

|percentage = 89.56

|change = +4.46

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 23,599

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1981 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=206}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Geoffrey Palmer

|votes = 10,793

|percentage = 63.25

|change = -0.95

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Ian Wilson

|votes = 3,765

|percentage = 22.06

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Peter Admore

|votes = 2,426

|percentage = 14.21

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Warwick Iversen

|votes = 78

|percentage = 0.45

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 7,028

|percentage = 41.19

|change = -4.64

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 17,062

|percentage = 85.10

|change = +49.10

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 20,048

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Christchurch Central by-election, 1979}}

{{Election box begin | title=1978 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=206}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Bruce Barclay

|votes = 10,229

|percentage = 61.17

|change = +8.21

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Gwen Clucas

|votes = 4,282

|percentage = 25.60

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Robert Gyde

|votes = 1,564

|percentage = 9.35

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Values Party

|candidate = Robin Duff

|votes = 616

|percentage = 3.68

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate minor party

|party = Socialist Action

|color = {{party color|Communist League (New Zealand)}}

|candidate = Michael William Gourley

|votes = 30

|percentage = 0.17

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 5,947

|percentage = 35.56

|change = +17.32

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 16,721

|percentage = 52.32

|change = -18.19

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 31,956

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1975 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=206}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Bruce Barclay

|votes = 8,630

|percentage = 52.96

|change = -7.96

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Tim Armitage

|votes = 5,657

|percentage = 34.71

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Values Party

|candidate = Robin Duff

|votes = 1,415

|percentage = 8.68

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Alan Easterbrook

|votes = 555

|percentage = 3.40

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Imperial British Conservative Party

|candidate = Coronita Wealleans

|votes = 37

|percentage = 0.22

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 2,973

|percentage = 18.24

|change = -12.94

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 16,294

|percentage = 70.51

|change = -14.49

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 23,107

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1972 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=206}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Bruce Barclay

|votes = 9,971

|percentage = 60.92

|change = +2.87

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Barbara Beaven

|votes = 4,868

|percentage = 29.74

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Ray Thomas

|votes = 700

|percentage = 4.27

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Values Party

|candidate = Diane Roberts

|votes = 693

|percentage = 4.23

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Socialist Unity Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Arnold James Cox

|votes = 68

|percentage = 0.41

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Democratic Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Cairn George Jensen

|votes = 66

|percentage = 0.40

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 5,103

|percentage = 31.18

|change = +8.72

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 16,366

|percentage = 85.00

|change = -1.61

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 19,252

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1969 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=205}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Bruce Barclay

|votes = 8,801

|percentage = 58.05

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Colin Knight

|votes = 5,395

|percentage = 35.58

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Stan Fitchett

|votes = 964

|percentage = 6.35

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,406

|percentage = 22.46

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 15,160

|percentage = 86.61

|change = +6.79

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 17,502

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1966 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=205}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Robert Macfarlane

|votes = 6,771

|percentage = 49.32

|change = -2.92

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Fred Francis

|votes = 5,362

|percentage = 39.06

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Lola Thompson

|votes = 1,455

|percentage = 10.60

|change = +3.11

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Jack Locke

|votes = 138

|percentage = 1.00

|change = -0.26

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,409

|percentage = 10.26

|change = -2.98

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 13,726

|percentage = 79.82

|change = -4.10

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 17,196

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1963 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=205}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Robert Macfarlane

|votes = 7,552

|percentage = 52.24

|change = -1.52

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Dave Patchett

|votes = 5,637

|percentage = 38.99

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Lola Thompson

|votes = 1,084

|percentage = 7.49

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Jack Locke

|votes = 183

|percentage = 1.26

|change = +0.21

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,915

|percentage = 13.24

|change = -2.09

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 14,456

|percentage = 83.92

|change = -0.69

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 17,225

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1960 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=205}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Robert Macfarlane

|votes = 6,786

|percentage = 53.76

|change = -7.01

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Tom Flint

|votes = 4,851

|percentage = 38.43

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Walter Green

|votes = 851

|percentage = 6.74

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Jack Locke

|votes = 133

|percentage = 1.05

|change = -0.01

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,935

|percentage = 15.33

|change = -12.90

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 12,621

|percentage = 84.61

|change = -4.62

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 14,916

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1957 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=205}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Robert Macfarlane

|votes = 8,763

|percentage = 60.77

|change = +6.84

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Colin McLachlan

|votes = 4,692

|percentage = 32.54

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = William John Campbell

|votes = 811

|percentage = 5.62

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Jack Locke

|votes = 153

|percentage = 1.06

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 4,071

|percentage = 28.23

|change = +3.30

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 14,419

|percentage = 89.23

|change = +3.15

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 16,158

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1954 general election: Christchurch Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=205}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Robert Macfarlane

|votes = 7,345

|percentage = 53.93

|change = -8.79

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Oliver G. Moody

|votes = 3,950

|percentage = 29.00

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Albert E. Willyams

|votes = 2,185

|percentage = 16.04

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Alec Ostler

|votes = 137

|percentage = 1.00

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,395

|percentage = 24.93

|change = -0.89

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 13,617

|percentage = 86.08

|change = +3.61

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 15,819

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1951 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web |title= The New Zealand Official Year-Book, 1951–52 |url= http://www3.stats.govt.nz/New_Zealand_Official_Yearbooks/1951-52/NZOYB_1951-52.html |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date= 19 November 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120623225646/http://www3.stats.govt.nz/New_Zealand_Official_Yearbooks/1951-52/NZOYB_1951-52.html |archive-date= 23 June 2012 |url-status = dead }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Robert Macfarlane

|votes = 6,901

|percentage = 62.72

|change = -1.81

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Alma Schumacher

|votes = 4,103

|percentage = 37.28

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 2,798

|percentage = 25.42

|change = -5.50

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 11,004

|percentage = 82.47

|change = -6.90

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 13,343

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1949 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web |title=The General Election, 1949 |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1950-I.2.3.2.43 |publisher=National Library |access-date=3 January 2014 |pages=1–5, 8 |year=1950}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Robert Macfarlane

|votes = 7,589

|percentage = 64.53

|change = -1.96

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Kevin Marlow

|votes = 3,952

|percentage = 33.60

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Alec Ostler

|votes = 218

|percentage = 1.85

|change = -0.56

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,637

|percentage = 30.92

|change = -4.49

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 11,759

|percentage = 89.37

|change = +0.40

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 13,157

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1946 general election: Christchurch Central{{cite web |title=The General Election, 1946 |url= http://www.atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1947-I.2.4.2.38 |publisher=National Library |access-date=1 January 2014 |pages=1–11, 14 |year=1947}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Robert Macfarlane

|votes = 8,300

|percentage = 66.49

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Alan J. Wills

|votes = 3,880

|percentage = 31.08

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Alec Ostler

|votes = 302

|percentage = 2.41

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 4,420

|percentage = 35.41

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 12,482

|percentage = 88.97

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 14,028

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |title=Electoral Atlas of New Zealand |last=McRobie |first=Alan |year=1989 |publisher=GP Books |location=Wellington |isbn=0-477-01384-8}}
• {{cite book |last = Norton |first = Clifford |title = New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946-1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science |year = 1988 |publisher = Victoria University of Wellington |location = Wellington |isbn = 0-475-11200-8}}
• {{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |orig-year=First published in 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103}}

• [http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/B3BA08D8-8FDD-4690-B208-F11AC19126AD/98/Christchurch_Central1.pdf Electorate Profile — 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929093018/http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/B3BA08D8-8FDD-4690-B208-F11AC19126AD/98/Christchurch_Central1.pdf |date=29 September 2007 }}, Parliamentary Library
• [http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PubRes/Research/Electorates/9/b/e/DBHOH_Lib_EP_ChristchurchCentral_TOC_1-Christchurch-Central-Electorate.htm Electorate Profile — 2008], Parliamentary Library

{{Electorates of New Zealand}}

Category:1946 establishments in New Zealand

Category:New Zealand electorates

Category:Politics of Christchurch