Whanganui (New Zealand electorate) – Wikipedia

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Electoral district in New Zealand

Whanganui (known as Wanganui until 1996) is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was first established in 1860 for the 3rd Parliament and has existed continuously since then.

It is held by Steph Lewis of the Labour Party, who won it in the 2020 general election.

Establishment[edit]

In the 1860 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives increased the number of representatives by 12, reflecting the immense population growth since the original electorates were established in 1853. The redistribution created 15 additional electorates with between one and three members, and the Wanganui and Rangitikei electorate was split into two separate electorates: the Rangitikei electorate and the Wanganui electorate, with one member each.

Population centres[edit]

The current electorate is based on the urban area of Whanganui, the towns Ōpunake and Hāwera, and smaller centres Kaponga, Eltham, Normanby, Manaia, Patea and Waverley; broadly speaking, the Whanganui and South Taranaki local government districts.

History[edit]

Henry Shafto Harrison was the first representative. His 7 February 1861 election was declared invalid. He stood again in the 1861 by-election and was elected again. He then served the electorate until the end of the term in 1866.

Harrison, John Bryce and John Garner contested the 1866 election. The nomination meeting was held on Friday, 2 March 1866. Harrison, Bryce and Garner received 51, 102 and 7 votes, respectively, at the election on the following day. Bryce was thus declared elected.[4] Bryce resigned in 1867.

The resulting 6 May 1867 by-election was won by Harrison, and he served until the dissolution of Parliament on 30 December 1870.

Bryce was again elected in the 30 January 1871 election. This time, he served three parliamentary terms until the dissolution in November 1881.

Wanganui became a two-member electorate for the 12 January 1876 election. Apart from Bryce, Julius Vogel was elected, who was later to become Premier. Vogel resigned on 9 September 1876.

The resulting 2 October 1876 by-election was won by William Fox, resulting in his second period of representation of a Whanganui-centred electorate. He served until the end of the term on 15 August 1879.

Bryce and John Ballance won the 1879 election. They both server until the end of the term, with Parliament being dissolved on 8 November 1881.

For the 1881 election, the electorate reverted to being represented by a single member. The election, held on 9 December, was won by William Hogg Watt. He served until the end of the term, with Parliament being dissolved on 27 June 1884.

The 1884 election was once again won by John Ballance. This time, he would serve in three successive Parliaments. He died in office on 27 April 1893 during the 11th Parliament. Ballance formed the Liberal Party after the 1890 election and became its leader, and thus introduced party politics to New Zealand. The Liberal Government of New Zealand would last for 21 years and is the longest serving government in New Zealand’s history.

Ballance’s death triggered the 1893 by-election, which was held on 13 June and won by Archibald Willis, who was re-elected at the 1893 election a few months later.

Gilbert Carson was successful in the 1896 election. He served one term. He was succeeded by Willis in the 1899 election, who served two more terms for the electorate.

James Thomas Hogan won the 1905 election. He served two terms and was defeated in the 1911 election by Bill Veitch.

Veitch had a long career in the electorate, serving until 1935, when he defeated. He was initially an Independent, but joined the Liberal Party in 1925, and changed to the United Party in 1928.

Joe Cotterill won the electorate in the 1935 election for the Labour Party. He also had a long career, retiring in 1960 from the Wanganui seat.

He was succeeded by his party colleague George Spooner in the 1960 election, who served three terms and was defeated in 1969 election by Bill Tolhurst from the National Party.

Tolhurst served one term and at the 1972 election, the electorate returned to Labour. Russell Marshall served six terms and retired in 1990.

In the 1990 election, Cam Campion secured the seat for National. He retired in 1993 and died two years after that.

The seat returned to Labour again, with Jill Pettis winning the 1993 election. She was the first woman to represent Wanganui. She served four terms, until her defeat in the 2005 election by Chester Borrows of the National Party.[13] Pettis served an additional term as a List MP until 2008. Borrows announced in 2016 that he would not seek reelection at the 2017 general election[14] and the seat was won by Harete Hipango, retaining it for the National Party. She however, was defeated after one term by Labour’s Steph Lewis.

Several members (Fox, Vogel and Ballance) became Premier. Terry Heffernan stood in the electorate five times for four parties, from 1981 to 1993.

Members of Parliament[edit]

Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at a general election.

Key

  Independent     Liberal     Conservative     Liberal–Labour     United Labour     United     Labour     National  

single-member electorate[edit]

multi-member electorate[edit]

single-member electorate[edit]

List MPs[edit]

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Election results[edit]

2020 election[edit]

2020 general election: Whanganui[15]
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 Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Steph Lewis 22,299 54.32 +13.98 21,228 51.39 +14.95
National Red XN Harete Hipango 14,108 34.37 -10.54 10,828 26.21 -18.52
Green Alan Clay 1,491 3.63 -1.91 2,004 4.85 +0.15
New Conservative Johnathan Marshall 784 1.91 — 690 1.67 +1.42
Advance NZ Charlotte Weber 773 1.88 — 531 1.28 —
Independent Hillary Kieft 367 0.89 —
Social Credit Heather Marion Smith 188 0.46 — 63 0.46 +0.41
ACT   3,260 7.89 +7.45
NZ First   1,368 3.31 -6.71
Opportunities   390 0.94 -0.75
Māori Party   222 0.54 +0.11
Legalise Cannabis   198 0.48 +0.07
ONE   189 0.46 —
Outdoors   43 0.10 +0.03
Sustainable NZ   24 0.06 —
Vision NZ   10 0.02 —
TEA   5 0.01 —
Heartland   2 0.00 —
Informal votes 1,035 253
Total Valid votes 41,045 41,308
Labour gain from National Majority 8,191 19.96 +24.53

2017 election[edit]

2017 general election: Whanganui[16]
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 Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Harete Hipango 16,751 44.91 −8.24 16,874 44.73 −2.4
Labour Steph Lewis 15,045 40.34 +0.03 13,748 36.44 +10.99
NZ First Reg Skipworth 2,580 6.92 — 3,783 10.02 −1.9
Green Nicola Patrick 2,067 5.54 — 1,775 4.70 −2.49
ACT Alan Davidson 294 0.79 +0.07 168 0.44 −0.03
Opportunities   639 1.69 —
Māori Party   162 0.43 −0.15
Legalise Cannabis   154 0.41 −0.13
Conservative   94 0.25 −4.75
Ban 1080   56 0.15 −0.01
Outdoors   25 0.07 —
People’s Party   23 0.06 —
United Future   23 0.06 −0.15
Democrats   20 0.05 −0.11
Mana   12 0.03 −0.7[b]
Internet   7 0.02 −0.71[c]
Informal votes 560 161
Total Valid votes 37,297 37,724
National hold Majority 1,706 4.57 −8.27

2014 election[edit]

2014 general election: Whanganui[17]
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 Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Green tickY Chester Borrows 18,649 53.15 -0.54 16,687 47.13 -0.43
Labour Hamish McDouall 14,144 40.31 +2.80 9,012 25.45 -1.96
Conservative Kim MacIntyre 872 2.49 +2.49 1,771 5.00 +1.77
Māori Party Nancy Tuaine 610 1.74 +1.74 205 0.58 +0.13
ACT Alan Daniel Davidson 252 0.72 +0.29 167 0.47 -0.61
Democrats Heather Marion Smith 208 0.59 +0.20 57 0.16 +0.01
NZ First   4,221 11.92 +2.39
Green   2,546 7.19 -1.77
Internet Mana   259 0.73 +0.49
Legalise Cannabis   190 0.54 -0.01
United Future   75 0.21 -0.24
Ban 1080   56 0.16 +0.16
Civilian   22 0.06 +0.06
Focus   14 0.04 +0.04
Independent Coalition   13 0.04 +0.04
Informal votes 350 112
Total Valid votes 35,085 35,407
National hold Majority 4,505 12.84 -3.34

2011 election[edit]

2011 general election: Whanganui[18]
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 Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Green tickY Chester Borrows 16,743 53.69 -2.61 15,151 47.56 +1.25
Labour Hamish McDouall 11,697 37.51 -0.10 8,733 27.41 -8.10
Green John Milnes 1,444 4.63 +0.19 2,855 8.96 +3.68
NZ First Ian Brougham 1,043 3.34 +3.34 3,035 9.53 +4.39
ACT Alan Daniel Davidson 135 0.43 -0.56 345 1.08 -1.99
Democrats Heather Marion Smith 121 0.39 -0.28 47 0.15 -0.07
Conservative   1,030 3.23 -+3.23
Māori Party   225 0.71 -0.29
Legalise Cannabis   176 0.55 +0.21
United Future   143 0.45 -0.20
Mana   75 0.24 +0.24
Libertarianz   22 0.07 +0.02
Alliance   21 0.07 -0.02
Informal votes 616 235
Total Valid votes 31,183 31,858
National hold Majority 5,046 16.18 -2.51

Electorate (as at 11 November 2011): 43,350[19]

2008 election[edit]

2008 general election: Whanganui[20]
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 Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Green tickY Chester Borrows 19,072 56.30 15,869 46.30
Labour Hamish McDouall 12,739 37.61 12,170 35.51
Green John Milnes 1,503 4.44 1,809 5.28
ACT Alan Davidson 336 0.99 1,052 3.07
Democrats Heather Marion Smith 225 0.66 73 0.21
NZ First   1,761 5.14
Māori Party   342 1.00
Progressive   253 0.74
Bill and Ben   249 0.73
United Future   224 0.65
Kiwi   186 0.54
Legalise Cannabis   116 0.34
Family Party   91 0.27
Alliance   28 0.08
Libertarianz   18 0.05
Workers Party   16 0.05
Pacific   10 0.03
RONZ   3 0.01
RAM   2 0.01
Informal votes 304 162
Total Valid votes 33,875 34,272
National hold Majority 6,333

2005 election[edit]

2005 general election: Whanganui[21]
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 Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Chester Borrows 15,846 49.28 +9.70 13,417 41.13
Labour Red XN Jill Pettis 13,444 41.81 -4.56 13,045 39.99
Green John Milnes 1,171 3.64 1,466 4.49
United Future David Ball 502 1.56 885 2.71
Māori Party Aaron Makutu 429 1.33 265 0.841
Progressive Debbie Lucas 371 1.15 448 1.37
One NZ Ian Brougham 214 0.67 52 0.16
Democrats Malcolm Murchie 175 0.54 68 0.21
NZ First   2,185 6.70
ACT   296 0.91
Destiny   282 0.86
Legalise Cannabis   68 0.21
Christian Heritage   62 0.19
Alliance   31 0.10
99 MP   18 0.06
Libertarianz   16 0.05
Family Rights   7 0.02
RONZ   7 0.02
Direct Democracy   6 0.02
Informal votes 376 144
National gain from Labour Majority 2,402 7.47 +14.26

1999 election[edit]

Refer to Candidates in the New Zealand general election 1999 by electorate#Whanganui for a list of candidates.

1993 election[edit]

1990 election[edit]

1987 election[edit]

1984 election[edit]

1981 election[edit]

1978 election[edit]

1975 election[edit]

1972 election[edit]

1969 election[edit]

1966 election[edit]

1963 election[edit]

1960 election[edit]

1957 election[edit]

1954 election[edit]

1951 election[edit]

1949 election[edit]

1946 election[edit]

1943 election[edit]

1938 election[edit]

1935 election[edit]

1931 election[edit]

1928 election[edit]

1925 election[edit]

1922 election[edit]

1919 election[edit]

1914 election[edit]

1911 election[edit]

1908 election[edit]

1899 election[edit]

1893 by-election[edit]

1890 election[edit]

1887 election[edit]

1884 election[edit]

1881 election[edit]

1879 election[edit]

1876 by-election[edit]

1867 by-election[edit]

  1. ^ Hipango entered Parliament on 11 June 2021, following the resignation of Nick Smith.
  2. ^ 2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election
  3. ^ 2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election

References[edit]

  1. ^ “The Wanganui Election”. Wellington Independent. Vol. XXI, no. 2331. 6 March 1866. p. 4. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  2. ^ “Hon Chester Borrows”. New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  3. ^ Moir, Jo (29 November 2016). “In hindsight National’s Chester Borrows says he “could have had more fights” as an MP”. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  4. ^ “Official Count Results — Whanganui”. Wellington: New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  5. ^ “Official Count Results — Whanganui”. Wellington: New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  6. ^ 2014 election results
  7. ^ 2011 election results
  8. ^ “Enrolment statistics”. Electoral Commission. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  9. ^ 2008 election results
  10. ^ 2005 election results
  11. ^ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1993.
  12. ^ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1990.
  13. ^ “The General Election, 1949”. National Library. 1950. pp. 1–5, 8. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  14. ^ “The General Election, 1946”. National Library. 1947. pp. 1–11, 14. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  15. ^ “The General Election, 1943”. National Library. 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  16. ^ “The General Election, 1938”. National Library. 1939. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  17. ^ The General Election, 1935. Government Printer. 1936. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  18. ^ The General Election, 1931. Government Printer. 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  19. ^ The General Election, 1928. Government Printer. 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  20. ^ The General Election, 1925. Government Printer. 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  21. ^ “Local and General News”. The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LXII, no. 19163. 31 October 1925. p. 12. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  22. ^ The General Election, 1922. Government Printer. 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  23. ^ Hislop, J. (1921). The General Election, 1919. National Library. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  24. ^ Hislop, J. (1915). The General Election, 1914. National Library. pp. 1–33. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  25. ^ “The General Election, 1911”. National Library. 1912. pp. 1–14. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  26. ^ “The General Election, 1899”. Wellington: Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives. 19 June 1900. p. 3. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  27. ^ “Electoral District of Wanganui”. Wanganui Chronicle. Vol. XLIII, no. 1500. 5 December 1899. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  28. ^ “Wanganui Election”. Woodville Examiner. Vol. VIII, no. 2054. 12 June 1893. p. 3. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  29. ^ “The General Election, 1890”. National Library. 1891. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  30. ^ “The General Election, 1887”. National Library. 1887. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  31. ^ Cooper, G. S. (1884). The General Election, 1884. National Library. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  32. ^ Cooper, G. S. (1882). Votes Recorded for Each Candidate. Government Printer. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  33. ^ “Wanganui Election”. Wanganui Herald. Vol. XII, no. 9507. 6 September 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  34. ^ “Local and General”. The Oamaru Mail. 3 October 1876.
  35. ^ “Wanganui”. Wellington Independent. 4 May 1867.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Mansfield, F. W. (1909). The General Election, 1908. National Library. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  • McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
  • Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
  • Scholefield, Guy (1925) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record (2nd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.

External links[edit]