Rimutaka (New Zealand electorate) 2014): 46,526 Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 44,403 Refer to Candidates in the New Zealand general election 1999 by electorate#Rimutaka for a list of candidates. Rimutaka (New Zealand electorate) Rimutaka is an electorate returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current representative is Chris Hipkins, a member of the Labour Party who has represented the seat since 2008. Centred on Upper Hutt City, the western boundary of the Rimutaka electorate is defined by the Hutt River from Avalon and Naenae in the south, through Stokes Valley, Trentham and Upper Hutt, to Te Marua, Kaitoke, and
Rimutaka Tunnel at that time. It was not until the 1920s that significant campaigning for a replacement again prevailed on the government. In 1921-22 a feasibility study was conducted, including distances and estimated costs. Several routes were considered, including variations on previous ideas, but nothing more was done at the time; although a deviation of "about 5 miles 48 chain" (9 km) as the Wellington-Napier Line (Rimutaka Deviation) "running generally to the south-eastward of the existing line" was authorised by the Railways Authorisation Act, 1924. The new Labour government of 1936 announced its intention to proceed with the Mangaroa to Cross Creek