Richard Prebble: Interesting electorate races - James Christmas

National is winning so many electorates that taking Tāmaki back from ACT could leave it with no list MPs.

ACT’s James Christmas is seventh on its list and will be an MP regardless.

But Tāmaki matters because our electorate vote lets us choose the best candidate.

Thomas Cranmer: Act's Libertarianism Comes Under Scrutiny with Van Velden's Bid for Auckland's Tāmaki Seat

Act's focus on incumbent Simon O'Connor's views on abortion exposes the limits of its philosophy and raises questions of political opportunism.

Saturday saw the Act Party announce that its Deputy Leader, Brooke Van Velden would contest the National Party stronghold electorate of Tāmaki in the upcoming general election with the intention of unseating current MP Simon O’Connor, who has held the seat since 2011.

What was particularly noteworthy about the announcement was that Van Velden chose to begin her campaign by targeting O’Connor’s views on abortion.