West Coast voters split as election nears, mining, climate and party loyalties clash

In a pre-election road-trip, Tim Brown and Louis Dunham documented the West Coast’s deepening political divide. Historically a Labour bastion born from early 20th-century miners’ strikes, the area has seen National win seats since 1990, most recently when Maureen Pugh defeated Damien O'Connor by a narrow margin. Candidates this cycle include National’s Katie Milne, Labour’s Rory Paterson, and incumbent Pugh, who will retire in November.

Residents like mechanic David Larkin argue that Labour no longer represents working-class values, while fisherman Allan Rooney dismisses both major parties and leans toward ACT’s David Seymour. Community voices such as Matthew Howard and Jane Wells call for a change, citing environmental degradation and economic hardship, and debate over the future of coal mining at Stockton Mine intensifies as permits near expiry.