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Map showing extent of the Waitakere electorate from the 2008 election until its abolition in 2014

Waitakere was a parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate was first formed for the 1946 election and existed until 2014, with breaks from 1969 to 1978 and from 1987 to 1993. The last MP for Waitakere was Paula Bennett of the National Party, who had held this position since the 2008 election.

Population centres

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The 1941 New Zealand census had been postponed due to World War II, so the 1946 electoral redistribution had to take ten years of population growth and movements into account. The North Island gained a further two electorates from the South Island due to faster population growth. The abolition of the country quota through the Electoral Amendment Act, 1945 reduced the number and increased the size of rural electorates. None of the existing electorates remained unchanged, 27 electorates were abolished, eight former electorates were re-established, and 19 electorates were created for the first time, including Waitakere.[1]

Waitakere was based around the western suburbs of Auckland. Given the nature of population growth in greater Auckland, and the addition of three new seats in Auckland, the boundaries of Waitakere moved around at every electoral redistribution; in 1999, they were moved northwards as far as Helensville before being pulled back south three years later. In its last boundaries before abolition, the electorate included the Waitakere City suburbs of Henderson, Rānui and Swanson before heading west over the Waitākere Ranges to Piha.

Waitakere was first abolished in the 1967 electoral redistribution, which resulted from the Electoral Act 1965 that fixed the number of South Island electorates at 25. As a result, three additional electorates were created in the North Island, and one additional in the South Island. One of those new electorates was Henderson, which took over most of Waitakere's area. These changes came into effect with the 1969 election.[2] Henderson existed for three electoral cycles and was abolished again through the 1977 electoral redistribution, when Waitakere was recreated; this came into effect with the 1978 election.[3]

The 1987 electoral redistribution took the continued population growth in the North Island into account, and two additional general electorates were created, bringing the total number of electorates to 97. In the South Island, the shift of population to Christchurch had continued.[4] Overall, three electorates were newly created, three electorates were recreated, and four electorates were abolished (including Waitakere). All of those electorates were in the North Island. Changes in the South Island were restricted to boundary changes.[5] These changes came into effect with the 1987 election.[6] Waitakere was abolished from 1984 to 1993, and then abolished again in 2014 to make way for new electorates Kelston and Upper Harbour.[7][8]

History

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The Waitakere electorate existed from the 1946 election to 1969, and from the 1978 election to 1987. This seat was held in an unbroken run by Labour for the whole of these two periods.

The name Waitakere was reclaimed and applied to a new seat in 1993, which was expanded ahead of the introduction of Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting in 1996 election at the expense of the former seats of Henderson and Titirangi.[9]

A high turnout for the Alliance in West Auckland in 1996 split the left wing vote and denied then-Titirangi MP and Waitakere candidate Suzanne Sinclair re-election to Parliament, to the benefit of Marie Hasler, also a former Titirangi MP. In 2002 Lynne Pillay was elected over Alliance leader Laila Harré. In 2005 Pillay was re-elected with a five thousand vote majority over National's Paula Bennett. In a nationwide swing towards the National Party in 2008 Bennett managed to unseat Pillay, with a majority of 632.

Carmel Sepuloni was selected by the Labour Party to challenge Paula Bennett for her seat in 2011.[10] On election night, Paula Bennett was thought to have held the seat by 349 votes but after counting 3,130 special votes it was determined that Carmel Sepuloni had won by 11 votes. The National Party requested a judicial recount due to the tightness of the competition (Labour did the same in Christchurch Central, where the Labour candidate was beaten by 45 votes[11]). The outcome of Waitakere's recount was released on 17 December 2011, returning Paula Bennett with a nine-vote majority.[12][13] The margin was two orders of magnitude smaller than the number of voters who voted while not being on the electoral roll, 393.[14]

In November 2013, it was proposed that the Waitakere electorate be abolished for the 2014 general election.[15] The electorate was mainly subsumed by Helensville, Te Atatū, and the new Kelston electorate, with a small section moving to the new Upper Harbour electorate.[7]

Members of Parliament

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Key

  Labour   National

Election Winner
1946 election Rex Mason
1949 election
1951 election
1954 election
1957 election
1960 election
1963 election Martyn Finlay
1966 election
(Electorate abolished 1969–1978, see Henderson)
1978 election Ralph Maxwell
1981 election
1984 election
(Electorate abolished 1987–1993, see Titirangi and West Auckland)
1993 election Brian Neeson
1996 election Marie Hasler
1999 election Brian Neeson (2nd period)
2002 election Lynne Pillay
2005 election
2008 election Paula Bennett
2011 election
(Electorate abolished in 2014, see Kelston)

List MPs

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

Election Winner
1999 election Jonathan Hunt
2005 election Paula Bennett
2008 election Lynne Pillay

Election results

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2011 election

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Due to the closeness of the election in Waitakere a judicial recount was undertaken on 16 December and it was confirmed that Bennett has beaten Sepuloni by nine votes on 17 December.

2011 general election: Waitakere [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 Green tickY Paula Bennett 13,465 44.74 -0.16 12,533 40.27 -0.95
Labour Carmel Sepuloni 13,456 44.71 +1.88 11,579 37.21 -2.57
Green Stephen Tollestrup 1,855 6.16 +0.67 3,308 10.63 +4.16
Conservative Danny Mountain 611 2.03 +2.03 753 2.42 +2.42
Legalise Cannabis Jeff Lye 331 1.10 +1.10 166 0.53 +0.01
Mana Sue Bradford 322 1.06 +1.06 174 0.56 +0.56
Libertarianz Peter Osborne 55 0.18 +0.18 33 0.11 +0.06
NZ First   2,011 6.46 +2.91
ACT   259 0.83 -2.56
Māori Party   168 0.54 -0.23
United Future   125 0.40 -0.31
Alliance   9 0.03 -0.10
Democrats   4 0.01 -0.01
Informal votes 652 300
Total valid votes 30,095 31,122
National hold Majority 9 0.03 -2.04

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 43,143[17]

2008 election

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2008 general election: Waitakere[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 Paula Bennett 13,704 44.90 +11.83 12,952 41.22 +7.05
Labour Red XN Lynne Pillay 13,072 42.83 -5.98 12,498 39.77 -6.88
Green Gary Stewart 1,676 5.49 +0.05 2,032 6.47 +0.54
NZ First Craig McNair 597 1.96 -2.36 1,117 3.55 -2.07
ACT John G Riddell 482 1.58 +0.25 1,067 3.40 +2.07
Pacific Fia Misa Tupou 448 1.47 +1.47 398 1.27 +1.27
Family Party Michael Kidd 358 1.17 +1.17 136 0.43 +0.43
Independent Rita Beckmannflay 107 0.35 +0.35
Alliance Sandra Ethell 78 0.26 +0.06 42 0.13 +0.02
Māori Party   241 0.77 +0.10
Progressive   225 0.72 -0.44
United Future   224 0.71 -2.23
Bill and Ben   168 0.53 +0.53
Legalise Cannabis   166 0.53 +0.26
Kiwi   106 0.34 +0.34
Workers Party   15 0.05 +0.05
Libertarianz   14 0.04 +0.02
RAM   10 0.03 +0.03
Democrats   7 0.02 +0.004
RONZ   5 0.02 ±0.00
Informal votes 300 149
Total valid votes 30,522 31,423
National gain from Labour Majority 632 2.07 +17.81


2005 election

[edit]
2005 general election: Waitakere[19]
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 Green tickY Lynne Pillay 15,325 48.81 +10.42 14,988 46.65
National Paula Bennett 10,383 33.07 +13.41 10,976 34.16
Green David Clendon 1,709 5.44 1,903 5.92
NZ First Brendon Stewart 1,354 4.31 1,806 5.62
United Future Hannah Baral 1,035 3.30 944 2.94
ACT John Riddell 416 1.33 427 1.33
Destiny Stan Green 394 1.25 227 0.71
Progressive David Parkyn 293 0.93 370 1.15
Māori Party Charles Joe 272 0.87 213 0.66
Direct Democracy Alona Covich 79 0.25 33 0.10
Family Rights John Ulberg 74 0.24 28 0.09
Alliance Sandra Ethell 62 0.20 -27.37 36 0.11
Legalise Cannabis   87 0.27
Christian Heritage   58 0.18
Libertarianz   8 0.02
99 MP   7 0.02
Democrats   6 0.02
One NZ   5 0.02
RONZ   5 0.02
Informal votes 271 127
Total valid votes 31,396 32,127
Labour hold Majority 4,942 15.74 +7.08

2002 election

[edit]
2002 general election: Waitakere[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 % ±%
Labour Lynne Pillay 9,756 35.95 12,868 46.68
Alliance Laila Harré 7,423 27.35 667 2.41
National Marie Hasler 5,295 19.51 3,848 13.96
NZ First Arthur Albert 1,249 4.60 2,924 10.60
Green Meriel Anne Watts 1,154 4.25 2,194 7.95
United Future Graeme Torkler 802 2.95 1,861 6.75
ACT John G Riddell 650 2.39 1,860 6.74
Christian Heritage Madeleine Jane Flannagan 380 1.40 414 1.50
Progressive David Parkin 218 0.80 425 1.54
ORNZ   215 0.78
Legalise Cannabis   170 0.62
One NZ   14 0.05
Mana Māori   8 0.02
NMP   0 0.00
Informal votes 95 204
Total valid votes 27,131 27,563
Labour gain from National Majority 2,333 8.60

1999 election

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

1993 election

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1993 general election: Waitakere[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Brian Neeson 8,283 41.96
Labour Barbara Hutchinson 5,103 25.85
Alliance Peter Maddison 3,933 19.92
NZ First Alf Lake 1,683 8.52
Christian Heritage Gary Rae 366 1.85
McGillicuddy Serious Allan Martin-Buss 171 0.86
Independent Trevor Cullen 120 0.60
Natural Law Kay Morgan 81 0.41
Majority 3,180 16.10
Turnout 19,740 83.73
Registered electors 23,573

1984 election

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1984 general election: Waitakere[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ralph Maxwell 9,926 48.28 +5.54
National John McIntosh 5,452 26.51
NZ Party Marsha Maxine Marshall 3,224 15.68
Social Credit Pat Wojcik 1,872 9.10 −19.10
Independent Blanche Victoria Holloway 85 0.41
Majority 4,474 21.76 +8.07
Turnout 20,559 91.49 +2.31
Registered electors 22,471

1981 election

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1981 general election: Waitakere[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ralph Maxwell 8,996 42.74 −1.27
National Martin Gummer 6,113 29.04
Social Credit Pat Wojcik 5,935 28.20 +9.14
Majority 2,883 13.69 +3.39
Turnout 21,044 89.18 +16.78
Registered electors 23,595

1978 election

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1978 general election: Waitakere[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ralph Maxwell 8,612 44.01
National Bill Haresnape 6,596 33.71
Social Credit Pat Wojcik 3,731 19.06
Values Sandy Gauntlett 452 2.31
Socialist Action B A Jones 174 0.88
Majority 2,016 10.30
Turnout 19,565 72.40
Registered electors 27,021

1966 election

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1966 general election: Waitakere[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Martyn Finlay 9,256 52.39 −2.14
National Peter Wilkinson 5,443 30.80
Social Credit Keith Edward Donald Robertson 2,968 16.79
Majority 3,813 21.58 +3.54
Turnout 17,667 86.61 −2.63
Registered electors 20,398

1963 election

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1963 general election: Waitakere[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Martyn Finlay 8,751 54.53
National Horace Alexander Nash 5,856 36.49
Social Credit George Eric Sutherland 1,079 6.72
Liberal Alan Charles Warden 216 1.34
Communist Vic Wilcox 144 0.89 −0.16
Majority 2,895 18.04
Turnout 16,046 89.24 −0.53
Registered electors 17,979

1960 election

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1960 general election: Waitakere[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rex Mason 10,680 55.94 −1.78
National John Herbert Wilkinson 6,971 36.51
Social Credit Keith Edward Donald Robertson 1,239 6.48 −1.02
Communist Vic Wilcox 201 1.05
Majority 2,895 15.16 −7.78
Turnout 19,091 89.77 −4.07
Registered electors 21,265

1957 election

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1957 general election: Waitakere[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rex Mason 9,263 57.72 +1.31
National Leonard Bradley 5,581 34.77
Social Credit Keith Edward Donald Robertson 1,204 7.50
Majority 3,682 22.94 +1.28
Turnout 16,048 93.84 +3.09
Registered electors 17,100

1954 election

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1954 general election: Waitakere[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rex Mason 8,914 56.41 +9.49
National Jim McAllister 5,490 34.74
Social Credit Norman Monteith 1,397 8.84
Majority 3,424 21.66 +18.37
Turnout 15,801 90.75 +0.20
Registered electors 17,411

1951 election

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1951 general election: Waitakere[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rex Mason 9,132 46.92 +4.76
National Robert Tapper 8,491 43.62 +2.30
Majority 641 3.29 −2.47
Turnout 17,623 90.55 −3.65
Registered electors 19,462

1949 election

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1949 general election: Waitakere[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rex Mason 8,341 51.68 −7.46
National Robert Tapper 7,411 45.92
Communist George Jackson 386 2.39
Majority 930 5.76 −14.20
Turnout 16,138 94.20 +0.10
Registered electors 17,131

1946 election

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1946 general election: Waitakere[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rex Mason 8,285 59.14
National Archibald Morrison Laing 5,488 39.17
Independent Frederick Allen 235 1.67
Majority 2,797 19.96
Turnout 14,008 94.30
Registered electors 14,854

Notes

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  1. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 91–96.
  2. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 106, 111.
  3. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 115, 119.
  4. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 127f.
  5. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 123–128.
  6. ^ McRobie 1989, p. 127.
  7. ^ a b Electoral boundary maps redrawn. 3 News NZ. 21 November 2013.
  8. ^ Bennett to contest new seat. Radio NZ. 21 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Waitakere 55" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Labour chooses Waitakere candidate". Television New Zealand. Newstalk ZB. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  11. ^ Backhouse, Matthew (10 December 2011). "John key Calls for Judicial Recount". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Paula Bennett reclaims Waitakere". The New Zealand Herald. 16 December 2011.
  13. ^ "Waitakere Judicial Recount Official Results". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012.
  14. ^ Powley, Kathryn (18 December 2011). "Questions over Waitakere vote". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2011. 'Those 393, not only were they not on the roll in Waitakere, but they weren't enrolled anywhere.'
  15. ^ Gower, Patrick (20 November 2013). "Boundary changes could swing the election". 3 News. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  16. ^ Waitakere results, 2011
  17. ^ "Enrolment statistics". Electoral Commission. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  18. ^ 2008 election results
  19. ^ election result Waitakere 2005
  20. ^ Official Count Results -- Waitakere, 2002
  21. ^ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1993. p. 126.
  22. ^ a b c Norton 1988, pp. 376.
  23. ^ a b c d e Norton 1988, pp. 375.
  24. ^ "The New Zealand Official Year-Book, 1951–52". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  25. ^ "The General Election, 1949". National Library. 1950. pp. 1–5, 8. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  26. ^ "The General Election, 1946". National Library. 1947. pp. 1–11, 14. Retrieved 1 January 2014.

References

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