Why is the Mt Albert electorate so important?

01 Oct 2026

Politics

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Robbie Nicol explains why the Mt Albert electorate could be the most important battleground of election 2026.

Last night, the six electorate candidates for Mt Albert – incumbent Labour MP Helen White, list MPs Melissa Lee of National and Ricardo Menéndez March of the Greens, Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong, NZ First’s Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri and Act’s Alex Price – faced off in a debate moderated by The Spinoff’s editor-at-large Toby Manhire. But why is this electorate so important?

How the people of Mt Albert vote could determine whether significant National MPs like Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis return to parliament, whether the parliamentary career of Melissa Lee ends, whether the Opportunity Party gets into parliament, and therefore, indirectly, the next government of New Zealand.

Directed, filmed and edited by Isaiah Tour.
Written and presented by Robbie Nicol.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.

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