[1] The seat became vacant on 15 April 2018, following the resignation of then-Member for Northcote Jonathan Coleman,[2] a member of the New Zealand National Party.

In addition to the eponymous Northcote, there are Birkenhead, Birkdale, Beach Haven and the southern end of Glenfield.

It was created ahead of the change to mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting in 1996 by merging the seat of Birkenhead with most of the old Glenfield electorate.

At the 2005 election, National Party's Jonathan Coleman secured the seat, defeating Labour's Ann Hartley.

[8] Key dates relating to the by-election were as follows:[9] Labour's 2017 general election candidate Shanan Halbert stated his intention to contest his party's nomination again.

[10] On 10 April Labour released the three nomination candidates; Halbert, Paul McGreal and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills.

[14] Tava, a member of the Waitematā Local Board, stood in Northcote for the Greens in 2011 and unsuccessfully contested the co-leadership in 2015.

Co-leader Marama Davidson said "The Northcote by-election is an opportunity for the Green Party to promote our early successes in Government while highlighting our points of difference".