Rangitata is a large, productive electorate in South Canterbury, stretching from the Rakaia River in the north to the outskirts of Timaru in the south. It is a dual-centred electorate, anchored by the two major service towns of Ashburton and Timaru, while encompassing a vast rural hinterland dotted with smaller farming communities like Temuka and Methven. The local economy is a powerhouse of New Zealand’s primary sector, driven by intensive dairying, cropping, and manufacturing, particularly at the Clandeboye dairy factory and the industrial port in Timaru. Politically, the seat is traditionally a National Party stronghold, reflecting its conservative, rural, and business-focused demographic. While it briefly swung to Labour during the 2020 election "red wave," it returned decisively to National in 2023. The electorate is currently represented by James Meager, who reclaimed the seat for National with a commanding majority, reaffirming the region's status as a key part of the party's rural heartland. In the 2025 boundary review the Rangitata electorate’s boundaries were unchanged from the 2020 review.