West Coast (New Zealand electorate)

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

Contents

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

ElectionWinner
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]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Damien O'Connor 8,920 46.26
National Margaret Moir 6,00031.11−18.22
Alliance Iri Sinclair2,52513.09
Independent Peter Neame8524.41−2.84
NZ First James Kelly6223.22
Christian Heritage D Robinson3211.66
Natural Law C Taylor420.21
Majority2,92015.14
Turnout 19,28285.81−1.57
Registered electors 22,469

1990 election

1990 general election: West Coast [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
National Margaret Moir 9,178 49.33
Labour Kerry Burke 6,56735.29−4.46
Independent Peter Neame1,3497.25−13.28
NewLabour J C Kelly1,0565.67
Democrats W J Grant2371.27
Social Credit E B Rennie2181.17
Majority2,61114.03
Turnout 18,60587.38−0.40
Registered electors 21,292

1987 election

1987 general election: West Coast [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kerry Burke 7,486 39.75 −10.94
National Gordon Garwood6,00631.89
Independent Peter Neame3,86620.53
Democrats Rosalie Newcombe9785.19
NZ Party Alan Blackadder3121.65
Independent Lee Antunovich1800.95
Majority1,4807.86−13.77
Turnout 18,82887.78−3.24
Registered electors 21,447

1984 election

1984 general election: West Coast [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kerry Burke 10,062 50.69 +2.05
National John Bateman5,76929.06
NZ Party Bill Murphy1,9769.95
Social Credit Kieran Murcott1,7889.00
Values Rosalie Steward2521.26
Majority4,29321.63+9.24
Turnout 19,84791.02+0.73
Registered electors 21,803

1981 election

1981 general election: West Coast [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kerry Burke 9,422 48.64 +1.37
National Doug Truman 5,01625.89
Social Credit Eamon O'Connor4,93225.46+9.16
Majority2,40112.39−16.73
Turnout 19,37090.29+8.74
Registered electors 21,452

1978 election

1978 general election: West Coast [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kerry Burke 9,167 47.27 −1.37
National George Ferguson3,52018.15
Independent Don Eadie3,33417.19
Social Credit Eamon O'Connor3,16116.30
Values Joanna Plows2091.07
Majority5,64729.12
Turnout 19,39181.55−7.38
Registered electors 23,778

1975 election

1975 general election: West Coast [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Paddy Blanchfield 9,522 51.39 −1.64
National Barry Dallas 7,12138.43+14.13
Social Credit Henry Pierson1,0195.50
Values Brian Weston6983.76
Independent Labour J D Houston1660.89
Majority2,40112.96−12.49
Turnout 18,52688.93−1.92
Registered electors 20,832

1972 election

1972 general election: West Coast [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Paddy Blanchfield 8,291 49.75
Independent Barry Dallas 4,04924.30
National John Bruerton3,58321.50
Social Credit H M Woodhall7074.24
New Democratic C F Woods320.19
Majority4,24225.45
Turnout 16,66290.85
Registered electors 18,339

Notes

  1. ↑ McRobie 1989, p. 111.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Norton 1988.

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