Heathcote (New Zealand electorate)

Heathcote was a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate, located in the Canterbury region. It existed from 1938 to 1996, and then again from 2008 to 2020. The electorate was named after the Heathcote River, which flows through Christchurch.

During its first iteration (1938-1996), Heathcote was generally considered a safe Labour seat. Its boundaries varied over time, reflecting population changes and electoral redistributions. Prominent Members of Parliament (MPs) for Heathcote included prominent Labour figures such as Henry May and Ann Hercus.

Following the introduction of Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) representation in 1996, the Heathcote electorate was abolished.

In 2008, the electorate was re-established as part of a wider review of electoral boundaries following population growth. The re-established Heathcote electorate covered a slightly different geographical area compared to its predecessor, still encompassing parts of Christchurch city. David Parker of the Labour Party won the electorate in 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017.

Following a review of electoral boundaries by the Representation Commission, the Heathcote electorate was abolished again prior to the 2020 general election. Its area was largely absorbed into the new Banks Peninsula electorate.