10:50PM Labour is closing in on a potential gain in Banks Peninsula as election night results across Canterbury show National holding several of its traditional strongholds.

With 86.6 percent of voting places reporting, Labour’s Tracey McLellan is leading National’s Vanessa Weenink by 2,231 votes.

McLellan has received 18,324 votes compared with Weenink’s 16,093, putting Labour in a strong position to reclaim the electorate it lost to National in 2023.

The live election tracker now classifies Banks Peninsula as likely to go to Labour.

In Christchurch East, Labour’s Reuben Davidson is projected to retain his electorate, having established a commanding lead of 8,477 votes over National’s Alexandra Davids.

Davidson has received 17,743 votes, representing 50.7 percent of the candidate vote, with 82.2 percent of voting places reporting.

Labour is also leading in Christchurch Central, where George Hampton has secured 12,362 votes, compared with National’s Dale Stephens on 9,896.

Hampton’s lead stands at 2,466 votes, with the electorate classified as likely to remain Labour.

In Wigram, Labour’s Dominik Yanzick has extended his lead over National’s Tracy Summerfield to 2,165 votes.

Yanzick has received 13,786 votes compared with Summerfield’s 11,621, with 83.3 percent reporting.

Meanwhile, National is maintaining substantial leads across several Canterbury electorates.

In Selwyn, Nicola Grigg is projected to retain her seat after securing 21,710 votes, giving her a majority of 13,828 over Labour’s Sunita Gautam.

National’s Matt Doocey is also comfortably ahead in Waimakariri, leading Labour’s Dan Rosewarne by 10,804 votes, with 87.3 percent of voting places reporting.

In Ilam, National’s Hamish Campbell has extended his lead to 6,020 votes over Labour’s Rata Jamieson.

Further south, National’s James Meager has established a commanding lead of 13,658 votes in Rangitata, securing 62.5 percent of the candidate vote with 96.2 percent reporting.

National’s Miles Anderson is also projected to retain Waitaki, leading Labour’s Damien O’Connor by 8,063 votes, with 97.7 percent of voting places reporting.

The figures, recorded shortly before 10.45pm, show Labour leading in Christchurch East, Christchurch Central, Banks Peninsula and Wigram, while National is ahead in Waimakariri, Ilam, Selwyn, Rangitata and Waitaki.

Although several electorates have been classified as safe or likely by the live results tracker, the figures remain preliminary, with the official results due on 27 November.