The seat was vacated by the death of incumbent member of parliament Parekura Horomia two months earlier, who had represented the electorate for the Labour Party since its inception for the 1999 election.

[4] The Governor-General must issue the writ for a by-election to fill a vacant electorate seat within 21 days of the Gazette notice (i.e. 29 May 2013).

After the notice of vacancy was published, Prime Minister John Key announced the by-election date has been set as Saturday 29 June 2013.

[8] The following candidates contested the election: TV3 political editor Patrick Gower reported two days before the election that, according to sources within the Labour caucus, Labour leader David Shearer has been put on notice and given two months to achieve better poll results, or else face a leadership challenge.

Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list prior to the by-election.