Blair Cameron confirmed as National’s Nelson candidate for 2026 election
Blair Cameron was confirmed as National's candidate for Nelson in the 2026 general election today.
Blair Cameron will get another shot at representing Nelson in Parliament after being officially confirmed as National’s candidate for the 2026 general election.
Blair lost the 2023 race by just 26 votes to Labour’s Rachel Boyack, but says he’s “full of energy” for the campaign ahead.
“I’m going to be talking with people across the Nelson Tasman community to listen and hear what the community most needs right now,” he says.
He says the cost of living remains a key concern and wants to see a stronger focus on economic growth.
“I will be an MP who is an absolute champion for our economy.”
Blair was briefly Nelson’s MP following the preliminary count in 2023, joining other newly elected MPs in Wellington. But after the final count, Rachel Boyack leapfrogged him to secure a second term.
Despite the setback, Blair says the experience confirmed his desire to serve.
“I’m really grateful for the three weeks I got last time around. I’m new to politics and the time I spent talking to people and learning was really great. It proved to me that I have something to offer.”
Since then, Blair has been contracting to the World Bank and teaching at Stanford University’s Leadership Academy for Development.
“I really enjoy the work I do, but I’m way more passionate about our community and what I can offer.”
Originally from Highbank in the rural South Island, Blair studied at Brown University before working as a senior research specialist at Princeton.
He says National is delivering for Nelson through major infrastructure projects including the Hope Bypass, the Nelson Hospital redevelopment and fast-tracking more than 370 new homes.
“These big infrastructure investments are key to our region’s future,” he says.
“Critical projects like these could not be completed without careful economic management. Just like getting inflation down to 3 per cent from Labour’s high of 7.3 per cent, and the resulting eight interest rate cuts, which are now saving the average Nelson mortgage holder $400 a fortnight in repayments.
“National is delivering for Nelson. As the local candidate I will keep working hard to deliver more wins for our community.”