Christchurch Central by-election, 1979

Christchurch Central by-election, 1979
1978 general ←
 18 August 1979 (1979-08-18)
 → 1981 general
Turnout 9,578
 
Candidate Geoffrey Palmer Terry Heffernan D P Duncan
Party Labour Social Credit National
Popular vote 6,149 1,759 1,634
Percentage 64.20% 18.37% 17.06
Member before election

Bruce Barclay
Labour

 Elected Member

Geoffrey Palmer
Labour

The Christchurch Central by-election of 1979 was a by-election during the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It was prompted by the death of Bruce Barclay, a Labour Party MP, and resulted in Geoffrey Palmer, also of the Labour Party, being elected to replace him for the seat of Christchurch Central. Palmer would eventually go on to become Prime Minister.[1] The by-election was somewhat embarrassing for the National Party, whose candidate was pushed into third place by Social Credit's Terry Heffernan.

Christchurch Central by-election, 1979
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Geoffrey Palmer 6,149 64.20 +3.03
Social Credit Terry Heffernan 1,759 18.37 +9.02
National D P Duncan 1,634 17.06 -8.55
Tory S A Sadler 26 0.27
Economic Euthenics Party Michael Hansen 10 0.10
Majority 4,390 45.83 +10.27
Turnout 9,578
Labour hold Swing +11.58

References

  1. ^ "Geoffrey Palmer". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. updated 9 July 2010. http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/geoffrey-palmer. Retrieved 19 November 2011.