Simon Watts

Candidate for North Shore
Currently serving: MP for North Shore, Parliament of New Zealand National
Party National
Connect with Simon Watts
Simon Watts’s Elections & Candidacies

Note: This database contains data from the 2023, 2020, 2017 and 2014 general elections, the 2025 local government election and is gradually being backfilled with other election data.

Contested 4 races — 2 elected 2 not elected

2023 NZ General Election • October 14, 2023 General
  • List MP
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: National Party
    Ballot name: WATTS, Simon
    Final Not elected
  • MP for North Shore
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: National Party
    Ballot name: WATTS, Simon
    Final Elected
    Vote share • 61.6%
    24,892 votes
2020 NZ General Election • October 17, 2020 General
  • List MP
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: National Party
    Ballot name: WATTS, Simon
    Final Not elected
  • MP for North Shore
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: National Party
    Ballot name: WATTS, Simon
    Final Elected
    Vote share • 46.2%
    19,202 votes
Offices held
  • MP for North Shore
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: National
    Oct 2020 – present
In the News
Rate-capping confirms National’s impoverished imagination
Otago Daily Times — December 5, 2025

Simon Watts. PHOTO: RNZ Rate-capping is one of those right-wing policies that sound commonsensical at first but then turn out very badly indeed.

Arts funding faces uncertainty with council refocus bill
The Post — December 2, 2025

Simon Watts says his bill won’t block cultural support, but ratepayer funds should prioritise basics. Councillor Diane Calvert warns it could unsettle community priorities.

Govt announces rates cap policy
Otago Daily Times — December 1, 2025

Local Government Minister Simon Watts Photo: RNZ By Russell Palmer of RNZ The government's long-awaited rates cap will be a variable target band and enforced by a new regulator.

Rates cap policy announced
Otago Daily Times — December 1, 2025

Local Government Minister Simon Watts Photo: RNZ By Russell Palmer of RNZ The government's long-awaited rates cap will be a variable target band and enforced by a new regulator.

Is the regional council reboot a government power grab in disguise?
The Spinoff — November 27, 2025

As regional councils prepare to be restructured out of existence, critics warn the real battle will be over who controls the reorganisation that follows.

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This database currently contains data from the 2025 local government eleciton, and general elections in 2023, 2020, 2017 and 2014. It is being backfilled with older data. Please get in touch if you want to help.