Following the 2014 boundary changes, it lost New Windsor to the New Lynn electorate, but gained areas around Three Kings and Sandringham and retained the communities of Mount Roskill, Lynfield, Wesley, and Hillsborough.

About 39% of the usually resident population of Mount Roskill are from the Asian ethnic group – the second-highest percentage of any general electorate in 2013, and over three times the national average (11.8%).

Over two-thirds (67.9%) of people in Mount Roskill stated they had never smoked, the third-highest share among general electorates.

Co-leader Metiria Turei said the vote would be closely contested and that the Greens did not want to "play any role in National winning the seat".

[1] ACT New Zealand also decided not to stand in the by-election, with leader David Seymour saying they wanted to give National the best possible chance of winning the seat.