The 1996 election was notable for the significant change of electorate boundaries, based on the provisions of the Electoral Act 1993.^[1] Because of the introduction of the mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system, the number of electorates had to be reduced, leading to significant changes. More than half of the electorates contested in 1996 were newly constituted, and most of the remainder had seen significant boundary changes. In total, 73 electorates were abolished, 29 electorates were newly created (including Ohariu-Belmont), and 10 electorates were recreated, giving a net loss of 34 electorates.

The electorate covered the northern suburbs of the city of Wellington, i.e. Ngaio, Tawa, Khandallah and Johnsonville, and also the adjacent suburb of Belmont in the Western Hutt Valley.

The electorate was established in the first MMP election of 1996. It replaced Onslow, but also included Belmont so was renamed Ohariu-Belmont.

In the 1993 election the Onslow electorate had replaced the earlier Ohariu electorate which had existed since the 1978 election, and when in the 2008 election the Belmont area was shifted to the Hutt Valley electorate of Rimutaka, the electorate was renamed back to Ōhariu (with a macron).^[2]

Members of Parliament edit

Key

¹United New Zealand joined with Future New Zealand to become United Future New Zealand, in 2002.

List MPs edit

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Ohariu-Belmont electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

¹Chauvel entered Parliament on 1 August 2006, following the resignation of Jim Sutton.
²Shanks entered Parliament on 7 February 2007, following the resignation of Don Brash.

2005 election edit

2002 election edit

1999 election edit