Meka Whaitiri held the seat for ten years under the Labour Party before changing political allegiances.

Whaitiri left the Labour Party in early May 2023 and joined Te Pāti Māori.

According to a ruling by the speaker of the House, Whaitiri continued to represent the electorate, not on behalf of a party, but as an independent.

The electorate includes the following population centres (from north to south): In the 2013/14 redistribution, a minor boundary adjustment was undertaken.

[4] Horomia's death on 29 April 2013 triggered a by-election,[5] which was held on 29 June and won by Labour's Meka Whaitiri.

[7][8] and the Mana Party had selected television presenter Te Hamua Nikora as its candidate.

[9][10] The Green Party had selected environmentalist and human rights advocate Marama Davidson.

[11] Based on preliminary results, Whaitiri more than tripled her 2014 election night majority over Mana's Nikora.

Also based on preliminary results, Marama Fox of the Māori Party was elected to Parliament as a list MP.

Māori Party Green Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.

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