Polling statistics show a mix of political support across the Eastern Bay, with some towns favouring Labour in the general election while others strongly backed National.

Across the East Cape electorate, National received the highest number of party votes with 10,254 of the 33,745 valid party votes cast.

This represents 30.4 percent of the party vote across the electorate, making National the most popular party.

The incumbent National MP Dana Kirkpatrick retained her seat, but her popularity varied across the Eastern Bay.

In Whakatāne, Kirkpatrick received 50.9 percent of the electorate votes, compared with Labour contender Jo Luxton’s 30.4 percent.

Ōhope showed even stronger support for Kirkpatrick, who received 62.5 percent of candidate votes to Luxton’s 25.6 percent.

Kirkpatrick also led in Edgecumbe, Matatā, Tāneatua, Waimana, Kutarere, Ōtakiri and Thornton.

However, Labour performed strongly in several other towns.

Luxton received the highest percentage of candidate votes in Kawerau, with 38.4 percent, compared with Kirkpatrick’s 34.3 per cent.

She also led in Te Teko, Murupara and Rūātoki, receiving 36.4 percent, 39.2 percent and 52.6 percent respectively.

In Minginui, Luxton and Green Party candidate Jordan Walker were tied at 46.2 percent each.

Te Kaha and Ōpōtiki also showed stronger support for Kirkpatrick, although the results were more closely contested.

The 2026 election saw a significant number of people choosing to vote early.

Across the electorate, 63.8 percent of candidate votes and 64 percent of valid party votes were cast during the early voting period.

A total of 557 votes were deemed informal, including 382 candidate votes and 175 party votes.

Together, these accounted for less than one percent of all votes cast across the electorate.

The Waiariki Māori electorate recorded 28,927 valid candidate votes and 29,221 valid party votes.

Of the candidate votes, 522 were deemed informal, representing about 1.8 percent, and 420 party votes were informal, or about 1.4 percent.

Labour received the highest number of party votes in Waiariki, with 13,647, representing about 46.7 percent of valid party votes.

National followed with 11,097 votes, or about 38 percent, while the Green Party received 2011 votes, representing about 6.9 percent.

For the electorate vote, incumbent Te Pāti Māori MP Rawiri Waititi received 13,080 votes, or 45.2 percent, to secure the seat.

Tania Waikato followed with 10,806 votes, representing 37.4 percent.

Together, these two candidates accounted for 82.6 percent of valid candidate votes in Waiariki.