New Zealand general election, 1972
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‹ 1969  1975 › |
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| 1972 general election New Zealand House of Representatives |
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| 25 November 1972 | ||||
| Government | Opposition | |||
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| Leader | Jack Marshall | Norman Kirk | ||
| Party | National | Labour | ||
| Leader since | 1972 | 1965 | ||
| Leader's seat | Karori | Sydenham | ||
| Last election | -- | 1969 | ||
The New Zealand general election of 1972 was held to elect MPs to the 37th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Labour Party, led by Norman Kirk, defeated the governing National Party.
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[edit] Background
The National Party had been in office since the 1960 elections, when it had defeated the short-lived one-term Labour government of Walter Nash. For most of this period, National had been led by Keith Holyoake, whose policies were focused around stability and a "steady as she goes" approach. Holyoake and his cabinet was increasingly perceived as tired and worn-out, so shortly before the 1972 elections Holyoake stood aside for his deputy, Jack Marshall, who took steps to reinvigorate the National Party.
Norman Kirk had been catapulted into leadership of the Labour party at the end of 1965, after 8 years as a back-bencher. He did much to modernise and update the party, but Labour narrowly lost the 1969 election. So Kirk slimmed and dressed to improve his image, and visited several overseas Labour parties to broaden his knowledge. He activated a "spokesman" or shadow cabinet system to spread the responsibility, though it was difficult to avoid one composed largely of Auckland and Christchurch members. But In the Balance wondered (August 1972) whether National could pull off another cliff-hanger victory.
[edit] The election
The date for the 1972 elections was 25 November, a Saturday. 1,583,256 people were registered to vote, and there was a turnout of 89.1%. This turnout was slightly higher than the previous election, and considerably higher than the following one. The number of seats being contested was 87, the highest number since the late 19th century.
[edit] Results
The 1972 election saw the Labour Party defeat the governing National Party, winning 55 seats to National's 32. Labour was therefore able to form its first government since 1960, with Norman Kirk becoming Prime Minister. The second National government thus gave way to the third Labour government. No minor parties managed to gain seats, and no independents were elected.
| Party | Candidates | Total votes | Percentage | Seats won | |
| Labour Party | 87 | 677,669 | 48.40% | 55 | |
| National Party | 87 | 581,422 | 41.50% | 32 | |
| Social Credit Party | 87 | 93,231 | 6.70% | - | |
| Values Party | 42 | 27,467 | 2.00% | - | |
| New Democratic Party | 86 | 9,363 | 0.70% | - | |
| Liberal Reform Party | 26 | 4,237 | 0.30% | - | |
| Independent (including Dr Barry Dallas) |
1 | 4,049 | 0.30% | - | |
| Miscellaneous | 33 | 3,714 | 0.20% | - | |
| Total Votes | 1,401,152 | 87 |
[edit] References
In the Balance: Election '72 by Ian Templeton and Keith Eunson (1972, John McIndoe, Dunedin)
Right Out: Labour Victory ’72 edited by Brian Edwards (1973, Reed) ISBN 0-589-00801-3 (17 contributors, including Beetham, Brunt, Marshall & Muldoon from other parties)
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