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
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.

Why regional councils will cease to exist, and what comes next
The Spinoff — November 26, 2025

Mayors are set to gain more power as the government proposes to abolish regional councils – but what will take their place is a work in progress.

Climate change minister defends weakened methane emissions target ahead of COP30
RNZ — November 13, 2025

Simon Watts says he is prepared for questions about New Zealand's lowered target when he heads to the annual UN global climate summit in Brazil.

Climate minister: Post-disaster full value property buyouts will one day be a thing of the past
The Post — November 11, 2025

Simon Watts told a private insurance event that over the next decade NZ will transition to “personal responsibility” risk model when it comes to buying and protecting property.

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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.