WHEREAS—

1. The Electoral Commission has received a warrant from His Excellency the Governor-General, to supply a member of Parliament to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Timothy John Groser pursuant to section 55(1)(f) of the Electoral Act 1993;
2. Under section 137(2) of the Electoral Act 1993, the Electoral Commission has determined that, of the unelected candidates on the party list of the New Zealand National Party, Maureen Helena Pugh stood highest in the order of preference on that list;
3. Under section 137(3) of that Act, the Electoral Commission has asked the party secretary of the New Zealand National Party whether Maureen Helena Pugh remains a member of that party and the Commission has been informed that she remains a member of that party;
4. Under section 137(4) of that Act, the Electoral Commission has asked Maureen Helena Pugh whether she is willing to be a member of Parliament and she has indicated her willingness to be a member of Parliament.

THEREFORE, pursuant to section 137(4) of that Act, the Electoral Commission declares that

Maureen Helena Pugh

is elected as a member of Parliament by publication of this declaration in the New Zealand Gazette.

Dated at Wellington this 21st day of December 2015.

ROBERT ANDREW PEDEN, Electoral Commissioner.