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The Mahia electorate was created in 1996 for the first MMP election. Located on the East Cape, it existed for one term only.

Population centres

The 1996 election was notable for the significant change of electorate boundaries, based on the provisions of the Electoral Act 1993.^[1] Because of the introduction of the mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system, the number of electorates had to be reduced, leading to significant changes. More than half of the electorates contested in 1996 were newly constituted, and most of the remainder had seen significant boundary changes. In total, 73 electorates were abolished, 29 electorates were newly created (including Mahia), and 10 electorates were recreated, giving a net loss of 34 electorates.

Mahia comprised all of the Gisborne electorate and parts of Eastern Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Waikaremoana and Wairarapa electorates.

History

Mahia only existed as such for one term and was represented by Labour MP Janet Mackey, who had previously represented Gisborne. For the 1999 election the electorate's boundaries were redrawn as East Coast, which Janet Mackey contested and won in 1999 and in the 2002 election until retiring at the 2005 election.

Members of Parliament

Key

Labour

Election	Winner
1996 election		Janet Mackey
(Electorate abolished in 1996; see East Coast)

Election results

1996 election

1996 general election: Mahia^[2]^[3]^[4]
Notes:		Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.
Party		Candidate		Votes	%	±%	Party votes	%	±%
	Labour	Janet Mackey		10,766	39.11		7,323	26.42
	National	Wayne Kimber		9,788	35.56		9,631	34.75
	NZ First	Gordon Preston		2,910	10.57		4,138	14.93
	ACT	Craig Bauld		1,848	6.71		1,879	6.78
	Alliance	Graham Smith		1,763	6.40		2,787	10.05
	Independent	Luke Donnelly		383	1.39
	Natural Law	Roy Neumegen		69	0.25		26	0.09
	Christian Coalition						1,187	4.28
	Legalise Cannabis						363	1.31
	United NZ						111	0.40
	Animals First						69	0.25
	Progressive Green						66	0.24
	McGillicuddy Serious						42	0.15
	Mana Māori						29	0.10
	Green Society						23	0.08
	Superannuitants & Youth						12	0.04
	Advance New Zealand						10	0.04
	Conservatives						10	0.04
	Libertarianz						5	0.02
	Te Tawharau						4	0.01
	Ethnic Minority Party						2	0.01
	Asia Pacific United						1	0.00
Informal votes				266			75
Total valid votes				27,527			27,718
	Labour win new seat		Majority	978	3.55