Waitaki is a geographically vast and diverse electorate that straddles the boundary between the Canterbury and Otago regions, stretching from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean. It is a seat of distinct contrasts, encompassing the historic limestone architecture of Oamaru, the rural service town of Waimate, and the booming, tourism-driven hubs of Wānaka and Cromwell in Central Otago. This creates a unique "dual economy" where traditional sheep, beef, and dairy farming co-exist with a vibrant viticulture, tourism, and hospitality sector, all underpinned by the major hydroelectric schemes along the Waitaki River. Politically, the electorate is a fortress for the National Party, reflecting its predominantly rural, conservative, and business-oriented demographic. It has been held by National continuously since its re-establishment in 2008, serving as one of the party’s safest seats in the South Island. The electorate is currently represented by Miles Anderson, a local farmer who won the seat in 2023 following the retirement of long-serving MP Jacqui Dean. In the 2025 boundary review the Waitaki electorate’s boundaries were unchanged from the 2020 review.