List of New Zealand by-elections
By-elections in New Zealand occur to fill vacant seats in the House of Representatives. The death, resignation, or expulsion of a sitting electorate MP can cause a by-election. (Note that list MPs do not have geographic districts for the purpose of provoking by-elections – if a list MP's seat becomes vacant, the next person on his or her party's list fills the position.) Historically, by-elections were often caused by general elections being declared void.
Background
[edit]Under the Electoral Act 1993, a by-election need not take place if a general election will occur within six months of an electorate seat becoming vacant, although confirmation by a resolution supported by at least 75% of MPs is required. In 1996 the general election date was brought forward slightly, to 12 October, to avoid a by-election after the resignation of Michael Laws. Twice, in 1943 and 1969, by-elections were avoided after the deaths in election years of Paraire Karaka Paikea and Ralph Hanan by passing special acts, the By-election Postponement Act 1943 and the By-election Postponement Act 1969.
In recent years by-elections have not occurred particularly frequently – only one in the 2002–2005 parliamentary term, and none in the 1999–2002 or 2005–2008 terms. This is because most MPs who retire mid-term (e.g. Labour MPs Jim Sutton and Michael Cullen) were List MPs, so are simply replaced by the next member below them on their party list (unless that person is already an electorate MP, or does not agree). Some MPs have entered Parliament when two or more people above them on the list have declined, sometimes after pressure from their party: in 2008 Dail Jones (New Zealand First) and Russel Norman (Green); and in 2011 Louisa Wall (Labour) after five above her on the list declined.
Historically, however, they have taken place considerably more frequently – the 2nd Parliament of 1856–1860, for example, saw 33 by-elections and four supplementary elections, despite the House of Representatives originally having just 37 seats (increasing to 41 seats during the parliamentary term).
In the past it was not uncommon for an MP who died in office to be replaced with an immediate family member such as a brother, wife (see widow's succession), or son. This resulted in the election of the first woman MP Elizabeth McCombs (who was in turn succeeded by her son Terry McCombs), the first woman National MP Mary Grigg, and the first woman Māori MP Iriaka Rātana; all of whom took over their husband's seat. This practice has however fallen out of favour since the mid-seventies with the election of John Kirk to his late father's seat being the last occasion this happened at a by-election.
Mary Grigg was elected unopposed, and Wood notes[1] that the 1942 Mid-Canterbury by-election is an extreme case where the election was gazetted without date of election, and four different dates are available from reputable sources: Official Year-book, Parliamentary Record, Journals of the House and J Boston.[2]
Twelve Prime Ministers first came to parliament via by-elections: Julius Vogel, Harry Atkinson, Robert Stout, John Ballance, William Hall-Jones, William Massey, Peter Fraser, Keith Holyoake, Walter Nash, Bill Rowling, David Lange and Geoffrey Palmer. Six Prime Ministers (William Fox, Henry Sewell, Edward Stafford, George Grey, Joseph Ward and Jacinda Ardern) have won by-elections later in their parliamentary careers, while Labour leaders Harry Holland and David Shearer were also first elected via a by-election.
Some minor party founders have also launched their parties by resigning from a major party and their seat, then contesting it for their new party. Party founders who have done this include Matiu Rata and Tariana Turia. Both resigned from Labour to form Māori parties. In 1980 Rata was unsuccessful in retaking his Northern Maori electorate for his newly formed Mana Motuhake party, but in 2004 Turia successfully reclaimed Te Tai Hauauru for the Māori Party. In addition, Winston Peters resigned from National and his parliamentary seat in 1993, retaking the seat as an independent and going on to form the New Zealand First party. In these circumstances, by-elections are seen as a legitimisation of the MP's rejection of his or her old party. In addition, they provide vital publicity and something of a mandate for the new party.
By-elections for the party in government in the two-party era due to a resignation were sometimes an opportunity for party supporters to abstain or to vote against the government if they disapprove of their party's policies, without endangering the government. Bruce Beetham entered parliament for Social Credit at the 1978 Rangitikei by-election, as did Gary Knapp in the 1980 East Coast Bays by-election. In the 1994 Selwyn by-election National retained the seat, but the Alliance candidate came second, perhaps held by votes from disaffected Labour voters for the Alliance candidate. The 1926 Eden by-election was won by Labour who became the official opposition, helped by a split over the Reform candidate selection.
Pre-party era
[edit]Liberal Party era
[edit]Key
Liberal Conservative Independent Liberal Liberal–Labour Independent
Multi-party era
[edit]Key
| Liberal | Reform | Social Democrat | Independent | |
| Labour | Country Party | Independent Labour | United | Ratana |
Two-party era (1938–1996)
[edit]Key
Labour National Independent Social Credit
MMP era (1996–present)
[edit]Key
National Labour Māori Party Independent Mana NZ First
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Wood, G. A. (1996) [1987]. Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament (2 ed.). Dunedin: University of Otago Press. p. 85. ISBN 1-877133-00-0.
- ^ By-elections in New Zealand; An Overview by J Boston in Political Science (32)2.
- ^ a b c d e Scholefield 1950, p. 144.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 140.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 100.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 95.
- ^ a b c d e Scholefield 1950, p. 97.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 131.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 102.
- ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Canterbury". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XIII, no. 978. 11 November 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 130.
- ^ a b c d Scholefield 1950, p. 120.
- ^ "Canterbury". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Vol. XV, no. 79. 31 December 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 2 May 2013 – via Papers Past.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 138.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 134.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 99.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 107.
- ^ "The Elections". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XV, no. 1132. 4 May 1858. p. 3. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 109.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 142.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 143.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 112.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 104.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 127.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 147.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 106.
- ^ a b c d Scholefield 1950, p. 146.
- ^ "Nomination and Election of a Member of the House of Representatives for the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay Districts". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. 1, no. 45. 31 July 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 139.
- ^ a b c d Scholefield 1950, p. 105.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 135.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 121.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 117.
- ^ "Canterbury". Wellington Independent. 17 May 1863.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 108.
- ^ "Northern Division election". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XVII, no. 1297. 25 May 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ "Grey and Bell election". Taranaki Herald. Vol. VIII, no. 409. 2 June 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 215.
- ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1905). "Ex-Members". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 94, 97.
- ^ "Dunedin and Suburbs South Election". Otago Daily Times. No. 463. 15 June 1863. p. 5. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 94.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 137.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 132.
- ^ "Election of a Member for Lyttelton". The Star. No. 148. 2 November 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 128.
- ^ "SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS". Daily Southern Cross. 19 August 1871. p. 3. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "COLERIDGE ELECTION". The Star. No. 1375. 24 July 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ "Heathcote Election". The Star. No. 1381. 31 July 1872. p. Page 2. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
- ^ "LYTTELTON ELECTION". The Star. No. 1634. 20 May 1873. p. 3. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
- ^ "GENERAL ASSEMBLY". The Star. No. 1912. 21 April 1874. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
- ^ "LATEST TELEGRAMS". The Star. No. 2006. 10 August 1874. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
- ^ "House of Representatives". The Star. No. 1998. 31 July 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
- ^ "AUCKLAND CITY WEST". No. 5490. Daily Southern Cross. 29 March 1875. p. 5. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "City West Election". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XXXII, no. 5238. 26 July 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ "Christchurch. 8th May". The Evening Post. Vol. XVII, no. 505. 9 May 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ "Stanmore Election". The Star. No. 4437. 14 July 1882. p. 3. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ "The Peninsula Election". Otago Daily Times. No. 6534. 23 January 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ "Result of the Polling". The Star. No. 5847. 9 February 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ "The Avon Election". The Star. No. 5944. 2 June 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
- ^ "Christchurch North Election". No. 6577. The Star. 20 June 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ^ "Obituary". The Star. No. 7022. 28 November 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "The Maori Elections". Northern Advocate. 6 December 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 93.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 122.
- ^ "The Wellington City Election". Vol. XXXII, no. 9384. Wanganui Herald. 10 March 1898. p. 2. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 148.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 123.
- ^ "The Patea Election Petition". Vol. XXXV, no. 10465. Wanganui Herald. 9 October 1901. p. 3. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 118.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 119.
- ^ "Declaration of Result of Poll and Notification of Second Ballot". Grey River Argus. 24 July 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ "Mr McCombs Returned". Northern Advocate. 17 December 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ "Election void, Vernon Reed disqualified for a year". Colonist. Vol. LVII, no. 13773. 10 May 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "Mr Jennings Unseated for Taumarunui". Ashburton Guardian. Vol. XXXV, no. 9140. 14 May 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "Result of Oamaru Petition". The Evening Post. 31 March 1923. p. 7. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 125.
- ^ "Labour Wins". Auckland Star. Vol. LVIII, no. 231. 30 September 1927. p. 5. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 136.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 114.
- ^ "By-election Postponement Act 1943". Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ a b Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
- ^ "Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election date set". The New Zealand Herald. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ Small, Vernon; Chapman, Kate (29 April 2013). "MP Parekura Horomia dead". Fairfax Media New Zealand (via Stuff.co.nz). Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Small, Vernon (27 July 2013). "Shearer is running of out time". The Press. Christchurch. p. A21.
- ^ Vance, Andrea (30 January 2015). "National MP Mike Sabin quits". Stuff. Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- ^ "Planning underway ahead of 'one vote' December 3 Mt Roskill by-election". Television New Zealand. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ "National will not stand a candidate in the upcoming Mt Albert byelection". The New Zealand Herald. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ^ Kirk, Stacy; Moir, Jo (22 March 2018). "National's Jonathan Coleman calls time on Parliament, sparking a by-election in Northcote". Fairfax New Zealand (via Stuff.co.nz). Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ "Tauranga by-election: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces date". Bay of Plenty Times. NZ Herald. 6 April 2022.
- ^ "Race heats up as 12 people contest in the Hamilton West by-election". RNZ. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ Cheng, Derek (9 October 2023). "Election 2023: Act candidate Neil Christensen dies, by-election to be held for Port Waikato". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
Bibliography
[edit]- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
External links
[edit]- Electoral Act 1993 (sections 129–133 refer to by-elections]
- By-election Postponement Act 1943 (avoided a by-election after the death of Paraire Karaka Paikea)
- By-election Postponement Act 1969 (avoided a by-election after the death of Ralph Hanan)
| General elections |
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections | |||||
| Referendums |
| ||||
| Components |
|   | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary officers |
| ||||
| Members |
| ||||
| Procedure | |||||
| Elections |
| ||||
| Locations |
| ||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||