Sydenham (New Zealand electorate)

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Sydenham was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1881 to 1890 and again from 1946 to 1996. It had notable politicians representing it like Mabel Howard (the first female cabinet minister in New Zealand), Norman Kirk (who became Prime Minister while holding Sydenham) and Jim Anderton (a former Father of the House, who started his parliamentary career in Sydenham).

Contents

Population centres

The previous electoral redistribution was undertaken in 1875 for the 1875–1876 election. In the six years since, New Zealand's European population had increased by 65%. In the 1881 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives increased the number of European representatives to 91 (up from 84 since the 1875–76 election). The number of Māori electorates was held at four. The House further decided that electorates should not have more than one representative, which led to 35 new electorates being formed, including Sydenham, and two electorates that had previously been abolished to be recreated. This necessitated a major disruption to existing boundaries. [1]

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, 19 electorates were created for the first time, and eight former electorates were re-established, including Sydenham. [2]

This suburban electorate is in the southern suburbs of Christchurch including Sydenham.

History

The electorate existed from 1881 to 1890 and then from the 1946 election to the 1996 election, the first mixed-member proportional (MMP) election.

The first MP for Sydenham was William White from 1881 to 1886. He resigned upon receiving medical advice. [3]

From 1886 to 1890, it was represented by Richard Molesworth Taylor. [4] [5]

From 1946 to 1996, the electorate was always left leaning. In 1946, Mabel Howard was elected. She held the electorate until 1969, when the Labour Party introduced rules that forced her to retire. In 1947 she became New Zealand's first woman cabinet minister when she was made Minister of Health and Minister in charge of Child Welfare. She is remembered for waving two large pairs of bloomers in parliament in support of her successful campaign to have clothing sizes standardised. [6]

Howard was succeeded by Norman Kirk, who in 1969 shifted from the Lyttelton electorate to the safer Labour electorate of Sydenham. During his representation of Sydenham, he became Prime Minister. He died in office on 31 August 1974. [7]

John Kirk succeeded his father in a 1974 by-election. Kirk Jr. held the electorate for ten years until 1984. In July 1983, John Kirk announced that he would not seek the Labour Party's nomination for Sydenham in the 1984 election. In his place Labour selected Jim Anderton, the party president, whereupon Kirk (a strong David Lange supporter) declared that he would stand against the official Labour candidate as an independent. His continuing opposition to Anderton's selection resulted in the Labour Party's New Zealand Council suspending him from membership of the Labour Party. Kirk served out the remainder of his parliamentary career as an Independent MP. John Kirk left New Zealand in 1984 while still an MP for Sydenham, as he owed more than $280,000. He was arrested in the US and imprisoned, and then extradited to New Zealand, where he was charged under the Insolvency Act 1985. He was sentenced to four months' periodic detention. [8]

Anderton was successful in Sydenham in 1969 and started his long parliamentary career. He held the seat until the abolition of the electorate in 1996 then transferring to Wigram, and from 29 April 2009 until his retirement at the 2011 election he was Father of the House. While holding Sydenham, Anderton defected from the Labour Party to found the NewLabour Party in 1989, and was re-elected in the electorate in 1990. In 1991, NewLabour and several other parties formed the Alliance, a broad left-wing coalition. Anderton was elected for the Alliance in 1993.

Sydenham was abolished in 1996 and replaced by the Wigram electorate.

Members of Parliament

Key

  Independent     Labour     NewLabour     Alliance   

ElectionWinner
1881 election William White
1884 election
1886 by-election Richard Taylor
1887 election
(electorate abolished 1890–1946)
1946 election Mabel Howard
1949 election
1951 election
1954 election
1957 election
1960 election
1963 election
1966 election
1969 election Norman Kirk
1972 election
1974 by-election John Kirk 1
1975 election
1978 election
1981 election
1984 election Jim Anderton 2
1987 election
1990 election
1993 election
(Electorate abolished in 1996; see Wigram)

1 John Kirk became an independent in 1983.
2 Jim Anderton defected to New Labour in 1989, and co-founded the Alliance in 1991.

Election results

1993 election

1993 general election: Sydenham [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Alliance Jim Anderton 12,466 57.73 +9.35
Labour Greg Coyle4,99023.11
National Gerry Brownlee 3,20914.86
NZ First Nicci Bergman3861.78
Christian Heritage Martha Alberts3461.60
McGillicuddy Serious Mark Dunick1100.50
Natural Law Carolyn Drake620.28
Dominion WorkersClifford Mundy120.05-0.01
Economic EuthenicsMichael "Tubby" Hansen100.04-0.14
Majority7,47634.62+14.87
Turnout 21,59186.12+0.56
Registered electors 25,069

1990 election

1990 general election: Sydenham [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
NewLabour Jim Anderton 9,821 48.38 -15.42
Labour Linda Constable5,81228.63
National Judith Harrington4,36921.52-8.73
Democrats John Ring1340.66
McGillicuddy Serious Wayne Graham Graves1120.55
Economic EuthenicsMichael "Tubby" Hansen370.18-0.29
Dominion WorkersClifford Mundy130.06-0.06
Majority4,00919.75-13.79
Turnout 20,29885.56+1.08
Registered electors 23,722

1987 election

1987 general election: Sydenham [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Anderton 12,241 63.80 +8.45
National Judith Harrington5,80530.25
Democrats Neville Minchington7944.13
NZ Party R J Holliday1240.64
Wizard PartyP J Wilkins1070.55
Economic EuthenicsMichael "Tubby" Hansen910.47+0.26
Dominion WorkersClifford Mundy240.12
Majority6,43633.54-0.52
Turnout 19,18684.48-7.29
Registered electors 22,709

1984 election

1984 general election: Sydenham [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Anderton 11,789 55.35
National Ernest Lascelles Bonisch4,53421.29
Social Credit Richard Bach2,46111.55-12.36
NZ Party Alan Blackadder2,32410.91
Values P Scholes1420.66
Economic EuthenicsMichael "Tubby" Hansen460.21-0.77
Majority7,25534.06
Turnout 21,29691.77+4.88
Registered electors 23,205

1981 election

1981 general election: Sydenham [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Kirk 10,232 52.76 -6.43
Social Credit Richard Bach4,63823.91
National Warwick Sykes4,33022.32
Economic EuthenicsMichael "Tubby" Hansen1910.98+0.93
Majority5,59428.84-7.43
Turnout 19,39186.89+23.82
Registered electors 22,315

1978 election

1978 general election: Sydenham [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Kirk 11,487 59.19 +5.01
National Ian Wilson4,80724.77
Social Credit Terry Heffernan 2,46312.69
Values Andy Lea6103.14-3.87
Socialist Unity Robin Black270.13
Economic EuthenicsMichael "Tubby" Hansen110.05-0.14
Majority7,04036.27+15.77
Turnout 19,40563.0716.12
Registered electors 30,764

1975 election

1975 general election: Sydenham [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Kirk 10,086 54.18 -8.68
National Paul Matheson 6,26933.68
Values Andy Lea1,3067.01+0.55
Social Credit Joe Pounsford8984.82-11.95
Pensioners' Party [13] Michael "Tubby" Hansen360.19
Socialist Unity Ron O'Brien180.09
Majority3,81720.50-25.59
Turnout 18,61379.19+27.3
Registered electors 23,503

1974 by-election

1974 Sydenham by-election [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Kirk 6,664 62.86
Social Credit Joe Poundsford1,77816.77
Values Andy Lea6856.46
Independent National Saul Goldsmith 6846.45
Independent David Crawford3213.02
Christian Independent Tom Fouhy2742.58
Socialist Action Kay Goodger1811.70
Liberal David Mitchell130.12
Informal votes1010.95
Majority4,88646.09
Turnout 10,60051.88-37.69
Registered electors 20,428
Labour hold Swing

1972 election

1972 general election: Sydenham [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Norman Kirk 11,711 67.45 +3.90
National John Burn4,72227.19
Social Credit Alan Easterbrook7584.36
Independent Michael "Tubby" Hansen670.38-0.28
New Democratic John Bernard Elliot620.35
Independent Michael Leeman-Smith420.24
Majority6,98940.25+4.04
Turnout 17,36289.57+2.92
Registered electors 19,382

1969 election

1969 general election: Sydenham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Norman Kirk 10,575 63.55
National Peter Morrisey4,54927.33
Social Credit Joe Pounsford1,2857.72-9.67
Independent Ian Andrew More1210.72
Independent Michael "Tubby" Hansen1100.66
Majority6,02636.21
Turnout 16,64086.65+3.95
Registered electors 19,203

1966 election

1966 general election: Sydenham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mabel Howard 8,071 53.34 -8.25
National Helen Garrett4,12427.25
Social Credit Joe Pounsford2,63117.39+6.46
Independent Tommy Armstrong 3032.00
Majority3,94726.08-8.04
Turnout 15,12982.70-3.05
Registered electors 18,293

1963 election

1963 general election: Sydenham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mabel Howard 9,745 61.59 -1.07
National Derek Quigley 4,34627.46-1.17
Social Credit Joe Pounsford1,73010.93+2.24
Majority5,39934.12+0.10
Turnout 15,82185.75-0.90
Registered electors 18,450

1960 election

1960 general election: Sydenham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mabel Howard 8,827 62.66 -6.17
National Derek Quigley 4,03428.63
Social Credit Joe Pounsford1,2258.69
Majority4,79334.02-9.45
Turnout 14,08686.65-3.90
Registered electors 16,255

1957 election

1957 general election: Sydenham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mabel Howard 10,213 68.83 +7.10
National Oliver G. Moody3,76325.36
Social Credit George Lynne8605.79-11.52
Majority6,45043.47+2.72
Turnout 14,83690.55+2.63
Registered electors 16,384

1954 election

1954 general election: Sydenham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mabel Howard 8,420 61.73 -6.02
National Alma Schumacher2,86020.96
Social Credit George Lynne2,36217.31
Majority5,56040.75+5.27
Turnout 13,64287.92+1.79
Registered electors 15,515

1951 election

1951 general election: Sydenham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mabel Howard 8,406 67.75 -4.20
National Albert Hugh Stott4,00332.25
Majority4,40335.488.42
Turnout 12,40986.13-3.74
Registered electors 14,407

1949 election

1949 general election: Sydenham [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mabel Howard 9,246 71.95 -3.25
National Oliver G. Moody3,60328.05
Majority5,64343.90-6.50
Turnout 12,84989.87-0.23
Registered electors 14,296

1946 election

1946 general election: Sydenham [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mabel Howard 10,063 75.20
National Ruric Hunter3,31724.80
Majority6,74650.40
Turnout 13,38090.10
Registered electors 14,849

1887 election

1887 general election: Sydenham [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Richard Taylor 766 66.15 +26.80
Independent John Crewes 39233.85
Majority37432.30+30.50
Turnout 1,15857.02
Registered electors 2,031

1886 by-election

1886 Sydenham by-election [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Richard Molesworth Taylor 438 39.35
Independent John Lee Scott41837.56+1.10
Independent Samuel Paull Andrews 23020.66
Independent S. G. Jolly20.18
Rejected ballots252.25
Turnout 1,113
Majority201.80-23.53

1884 election

1884 general election: Sydenham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent William White 776 62.68 -3.12
Independent John Lee Scott46237.32
Majority31425.36-24.24
Turnout 1,23855.29+2.92
Registered electors 2,239

1881 election

1881 general election: Sydenham [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent William White 662 65.81
Independent Charles Clark 16316.20
Independent James Treadwell11111.03
Independent John Richard Andrew706.96
Majority49949.60
Turnout 1,00652.37
Registered electors 1,921

Notes

  1. ↑ McRobie 1989, pp. 43–48.
  2. ↑ McRobie 1989, pp. 91–96.
  3. ↑ "The Sydenham Electorate". The Star . No. 5580. 30 March 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  4. 1 2 "The Sydenham Election". The Star . No. 5617. 13 May 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Sydenham". The Star . No. 6043. 27 September 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  6. ↑ McAloon, Jim. "Howard, Mabel Bowden". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  7. ↑ Bassett, Michael. "Kirk, Norman Eric". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  8. ↑ Stickley, Tony (24 August 2005). "Awatere sent straight to jail over fraud charges". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  9. ↑ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1993. p. 105.
  10. ↑ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1990. p. 109.
  11. ↑ Norton 1988, p. 352.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Norton 1988, p. 351.
  13. ↑ "Significant drop in candidates as nominations close". The Press . Vol. CXV, no. 33994. 7 November 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Norton 1988, p. 350.
  15. ↑ "The General Election, 1949". National Library. 1950. pp. 1–5, 8. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "The General Election, 1946". National Library. 1947. pp. 1–11, 14. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  17. ↑ Cooper, G. S. (1887). The General Election, 1887. National Library. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  18. ↑ Cooper, G. S. (1884). The General Election, 1884. National Library. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  19. ↑ Cooper, G. S. (1882). Votes Recorded for Each Candidate. Government Printer. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2021.

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References

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