Labour has reclaimed Banks Peninsula from National in Canterbury’s biggest election upset, while National has delivered commanding victories across several of the region’s other electorates.

The completed election night count shows Labour’s Tracey McLellan defeating National incumbent Vanessa Weenink by 2,261 votes, reversing the result that cost McLellan her seat in 2023.

McLellan secured 19,216 votes compared with Weenink’s 16,955, marking a significant political comeback for the former Labour MP.

Labour also narrowly won the electorate’s party vote with 28 percent, ahead of National on 26 percent and the Greens on 17.9 percent.

Across Christchurch, Labour has maintained its dominance in the city’s urban electorates, while National has comfortably retained Ilam.

In Christchurch East, Labour’s Reuben Davidson secured a convincing result, establishing a 9,012 vote lead over National’s Alexandra Davids.

Davidson received 18,805 votes, representing 50.6 percent of the candidate vote reported. Labour also comfortably led the party vote with 36.9 percent, compared with National’s 21.6 percent and the Greens’ 15.5 percent.

Christchurch Central will have a new Labour MP, with George Hampton securing a decisive victory in the election night count.

With 100 percent of voting places reporting, Hampton received 13,836 votes, finishing 2,632 ahead of National’s Dale Stephens, who secured 11,204 votes.

Green Party candidate Kahu Carter finished third with 6,165 votes.

Labour also led the Christchurch Central party vote with 32.3 percent, followed by National on 23.5 percent and the Greens on 18.7 percent.

Another new Labour MP is set to enter Parliament through Wigram, where Dominik Yanzick defeated National’s Tracy Summerfield in the preliminary count by 1,935 votes.

Yanzick secured 15,086 votes compared with Summerfield’s 13,151. Labour won 33.9 percent of the party vote, with National on 29.1 percent and the Greens on 12 percent.

Meanwhile, National has delivered some of its strongest results across Canterbury’s neighbouring districts.

In Selwyn, Nicola Grigg recorded a commanding 13,941 vote majority over Labour’s Sunita Gautam.

Grigg secured 21,903 votes, representing 56.5 percent of the candidate vote, considerably higher than National’s 36.6 percent party vote share.

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey also celebrated a convincing victory, finishing 11,283 votes ahead of Labour’s Dan Rosewarne.

Doocey received 23,910 votes, representing 55.2 percent of the candidate vote, while National secured 33.6 percent of the party vote, compared with Labour’s 25.1 percent and ACT’s 14 percent.

Speaking to chrislynchmedia.com, Doocey thanked voters and promised to continue delivering major local projects.

“I’m looking forward to getting back into it on Monday. We’ve got a bypass to build and an after-hours medical facility to open.”

National also retained Ilam in the election night count, with Hamish Campbell securing 17,699 votes, finishing 6,712 ahead of Labour’s Rata Jamieson.

Campbell attracted 50.2 percent of the candidate vote, while National won 35.3 percent of the party vote, followed by Labour on 25.5 percent and the Greens on 12.6 percent.

Further south, James Meager delivered one of National’s most decisive performances in Rangitata.

Meager secured 22,236 votes, representing 62.4 percent of the candidate vote, and finished 13,917 ahead of Labour’s Sange Malama.

National won 36.5 percent of the Rangitata party vote, followed by Labour on 26.3 percent and ACT on 14.8 percent.

In Waitaki, National’s Miles Anderson secured a comfortable 8,352 vote lead over Labour’s Damien O’Connor.

Anderson received 19,790 votes, representing 50.1 percent of the candidate vote, with National also leading the party vote on 36.6 percent.

National’s Stuart Smith is also projected to retain Kaikōura.

The results reveal a clear political divide across Canterbury.

Labour has retained Christchurch East, Christchurch Central and Wigram while winning back Banks Peninsula, the region’s most significant electorate change.

National, meanwhile, has maintained its strength in Selwyn, Waimakariri, Ilam, Rangitata, Waitaki and Kaikōura.

Several National candidates also attracted substantially more support than their party’s vote share, particularly James Meager, Nicola Grigg and Matt Doocey.

The final results, including special votes, will be officially declared on 27 November.