West Coast (New Zealand electorate)

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West Coast is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1972 to 1996.

Population centres[]

Since the 1969 election, the number of electorates in the South Island was fixed at 25, with continued faster population growth in the North Island leading to an increase in the number of general electorates. There were 84 electorates for the 1969 election,[1] and the 1972 electoral redistribution saw three additional general seats created for the North Island, bringing the total number of electorates to 87.[2] Together with increased urbanisation in Christchurch and Nelson, the changes proved very disruptive to existing electorates.[2] In the South Island, three electorates were abolished, and three electorates were newly created (including West Coast).[3] In the North Island, five electorates were abolished, two electorates were recreated, and six electorates were newly created.[4] The West Coast and Tasman electorates replaced the former Buller and Westland electorates in 1972.[5]

Population centres of the original West Coast electorate were Haast, Whataroa, Hari Hari, Ross, Hokitika, Kumara, Greymouth, Moana, Punakaiki, Reefton, Inangahua, Westport, and Karamea.[6] In the 1977 electoral redistribution, Springs Junction was gained from the Tasman electorate.[7] There were no boundary changes through the 1983 and 1987 electoral redistribution.[8]

History[]

Labour's Paddy Blanchfield had represented the Westland electorate since 1960 and when Westland was abolished in 1972, Blanchfield transferred to the West Coast electorate.[9] He retired at the 1978 election and was replaced by Kerry Burke.[10] Burke was defeated in 1990 by Margaret Moir of the National Party. Due to the electorate being home to Blackball, the birthplace of the Labour Party, there was surprise at National's victory in 1990. Labour leader Mike Moore referred to the electorate as "Jerusalem" and was determined to recapture it.[11] Moir was in turn defeated by Damien O'Connor at the 1993 election.[12]

In 1996, the first mixed-member proportional (MMP) election the electorate was combined with Tasman to form the West Coast-Tasman electorate.

Members of Parliament[]

Key

  Labour     National  

Election Winner
1972 election Paddy Blanchfield
1975 election
1978 election Kerry Burke
1981 election
1984 election
1987 election
1990 election Margaret Moir
1993 election Damien O'Connor
(Electorate abolished 1996; see West Coast-Tasman)

Election results[]

1993 election[]

1993 general election: West Coast[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Damien O'Connor 8,920 46.26
National Margaret Moir 6,000 31.11 -18.22
Alliance Iri Sinclair 2,525 13.09
Independent Peter Neame 852 4.41 -2.84
NZ First James Kelly 622 3.22
Christian Heritage D Robinson 321 1.66
Natural Law C Taylor 42 0.21
Majority 2,920 15.14
Turnout 19,282 85.81 -1.57
Registered electors 22,469

1990 election[]

1990 general election: West Coast[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Margaret Moir 9,178 49.33
Labour Kerry Burke 6,567 35.29 -4.46
Independent Peter Neame 1,349 7.25 -13.28
NewLabour J C Kelly 1,056 5.67
Democrats W J Grant 237 1.27
Social Credit E B Rennie 218 1.17
Majority 2,611 14.03
Turnout 18,605 87.38 -0.40
Registered electors 21,292

1987 election[]

1987 general election: West Coast[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kerry Burke 7,486 39.75 -10.94
National Gordon Garwood 6,006 31.89
Independent Peter Neame 3,866 20.53
Democrats Rosalie Newcombe 978 5.19
NZ Party Alan Blackadder 312 1.65
Independent Lee Antunovich 180 0.95
Majority 1,480 7.86 -13.77
Turnout 18,828 87.78 -3.24
Registered electors 21,447

1984 election[]

1984 general election: West Coast[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kerry Burke 10,062 50.69 +2.05
National J W Bateman 5,769 29.06
NZ Party Bill Murphy 1,976 9.95
Social Credit Kieran Murcott 1,788 9.00
Values Rosalie Steward 252 1.26
Majority 4,293 21.63 +9.24
Turnout 19,847 91.02 +0.73
Registered electors 21,803

1981 election[]

1981 general election: West Coast[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kerry Burke 9,422 48.64 +1.37
National Douglas Truman 5,016 25.89
Social Credit Eammon O'Connor 4,932 25.46 +9.16
Majority 2,401 12.39 -16.73
Turnout 19,370 90.29 +8.74
Registered electors 21,452

1978 election[]

1978 general election: West Coast[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kerry Burke 9,167 47.27 -1.37
National George Kenneth Aitken Ferguson 3,520 18.15
Independent D H Eadie 3,334 17.19
Social Credit Eammon O'Connor 3,161 16.30
Values J M Plows 209 1.07
Majority 5,647 29.12
Turnout 19,391 81.55 -7.38
Registered electors 23,778

1975 election[]

1975 general election: West Coast[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paddy Blanchfield 9,522 51.39 -1.64
National Barry Dallas 7,121 38.43 +14.13
Social Credit Henry Pierson 1,019 5.50
Values B R Weston 698 3.76
Independent Labour J D Houston 166 0.89
Majority 2,401 12.96 -12.49
Turnout 18,526 88.93 -1.92
Registered electors 20,832

1972 election[]

1972 general election: West Coast[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paddy Blanchfield 8,291 49.75
Independent Barry Dallas 4,049 24.30
National John Bruerton 3,583 21.50
Social Credit H M Woodhall 707 4.24
New Democratic C F Woods 32 0.19
Majority 4,242 25.45
Turnout 16,662 90.85
Registered electors 18,339

Notes[]

  1. ^ McRobie 1989, p. 111.
  2. ^ a b McRobie 1989, p. 115.
  3. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 112, 116.
  4. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 111, 115.
  5. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 113, 117.
  6. ^ McRobie 1989, p. 117.
  7. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 117–121.
  8. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 123–128.
  9. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 184.
  10. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 184, 187.
  11. ^ Parussini, Peter (2020). Believer: Conversations with Mike Moore. Auckland: Upstart Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-990003-04-2.
  12. ^ Bromley, Tui (April 2011). "Shunned O'Connor lashes out". Greymouth Star. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  13. ^ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1993.
  14. ^ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1990.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Norton 1988.

References[]

  • McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 266. OCLC 154283103.
  • 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.
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