Marginal battleground

Christchurch East

General electorate

—

days to election day

What it takes to flip this seat

Reuben Davidson won by 2,397 votes in 2023. Just 1,199 voters switching to National would have flipped Christchurch East.

In the news

Coverage naming Christchurch East or Reuben, from our tracked feeds.

The roster

The defender's record, and who's confirmed to challenge them in 2026.

Won Christchurch East by a majority of 2,397 in 2023, making it a marginal seat.

Reuben John Davidson is a New Zealand television producer and politician. He was on a Christchurch community board from 2019. In the 2023 general election, he was elected to represent the Christchurch East electorate in Parliament.

Full MP profile

What Reuben has prioritised this term

Official roles, sourced from parliament.nz.

Spokesperson roles

Broadcasting Media and Creative Economy
Economic Development
Science Technology and Innovation

Select committees

Economic Development Science and Innovation

Legislative activity this term

From Parliament's official bills record, as at 16 September 2026.

Members' bill in the ballot (1)

Online Safety (Duties for Providers of Internet-Based Services) Bill

Written questions to Ministers this term

What is this, and why does it matter to you?

Any MP can put a written question to a Minister, demanding information on the record. The Minister must reply, usually within days. It costs nothing and needs no debate, which makes it the main day-to-day tool MPs use to hold the government to account between bills. It matters most for opposition MPs, who can't pass laws but can still force information into the open. Which Ministers an MP questions most, below, is a numbers-based picture of what they watch on your behalf, and it's worth comparing against what they say they prioritise.

1,367written questions asked since the 2023 election

Where it's gone, by Minister

Minister for Media and Communications

331

Minister for Digitising Government

323

Minister of Statistics

Battlegrounds map 2026 election

2023 result and margin: Electoral Commission. 2026 candidates are added only once officially confirmed — never assumed.

Read 5 recent questions & replies, in Reuben’s and the Minister’s own words

To the Minister for Economic Growth · 2026-09-07

"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 31 August 2026, by title and date?"

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Economic Growth · 2026-09-07

"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 31 August 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Media and Communications · 2026-09-07

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Economic Growth · 2026-08-31

"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 24 August 2026, by title and date?"

Reply: With the exception of Cabinet Appointments and Honours (APH) papers and minutes, all Cabinet and Cabinet committee papers and minutes must be proactively released and published online within 30 business days of final decisions being taken by Cabinet, unless there is good reason not to publish all or part of the material, or to delay the release beyond 30 business days. It is my view that the application of additional resources to answer this and similar questions now is not a good use of taxpaye…

To the Minister for Economic Growth · 2026-08-31

"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 24 August 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"

Reply: The list of briefings and reports received by my office from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is regularly published on MBIE's website (https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/open-government-and-official-information/release-of-information/lists-of-ministerial-documents-by-portfolio/economic-development). It is my view that the application of additional resources to answer this and similar questions now is not a good use of taxpayer funds and therefore not in the public interest…