Nelson by-election, 1976
The Nelson by-election was a by-election in the New Zealand electorate of Nelson a predominantly urban seat at the top of the South Island.
The by-election occurred on 28 February 1976, and was precipitated by the death of sitting Labour Party MP and Speaker of the House Sir Stanley Whitehead on 9 January 1976.
The by-election was contested by all major parties. It was won by Mel Courtney, the Labour Party candidate, with a majority of 1505 (Courtney increased the majority Whitehead had achieved in the 1975 general election by an impressive 50 per cent-only three months after the National Party's landslide victory). Wellington's Dominion newspaper reported that: "The defeat was a shock to the super-confident National Party organisers, including some of the party's top officials who were predicting a 2000-vote National majority" [1].
Mel Courtney, a 32 year old supermarket proprietor, proved "an excellent choice" as a candidate, the victory at the polls vindicated the decision of the Labour Party's selection committee. Courtney stressed Nelson's needs as a community as the major theme of his campaign. He had "lived in Nelson for a number of years", was a Nelson City Councillor [2] and struck a chord with electors: "Nelson is a unique place to live and consequently a local person (Mr Courtney) can best serve local interests" (1976 Survey).
References
Further reading
- "The Nelson By-Election: Politics in a New Zealand Community" by Levine, S (ed.) in Politics in New Zealand: A Reader (Sydney: George Allen and Unwin, Australia, 1978)
- "Spending the Allowance" p. 49 in Political People by Dreaver, A.J. (Auckland: Longman Paul, New Zealand, 1978)
|
|
26th Parliament |
- Christchurch South, 1939
- Auckland West, 1940
- Waipawa, 1940
- Waitemata, 1941
- Bay of Plenty, 1941
- Mid-Canterbury, 1942
- Temuka, 1942
- Hauraki, 1942
- Christchurch East, 1943
- Northern Maori, 1943
|
|
27th Parliament |
- Awarua, 1944
- Western Maori, 1945
- Hamilton, 1945
- Dunedin North, 1945
- Raglan, 1946
|
|
28th Parliament |
- Avon, 1947
- Mount Albert, 1947
- Westland, 1947
|
|
29th Parliament |
|
|
30th Parliament |
- Dunedin North, 1953
- Onehunga, 1953
- Onslow, 1954
- Patea, 1954
|
|
31st Parliament |
- Riccarton, 1956
- Bay of Plenty, 1957
|
|
32nd Parliament |
|
|
33rd Parliament |
- Hurunui, 1961
- Waitaki, 1962
- Buller, 1962
- Timaru, 1962
- Otahuhu, 1963
- Northern Maori, 1963
- Grey Lynn, 1963
|
|
34th Parliament |
- There were no by-elections during the term of the 34th Parliament.
|
|
35th Parliament |
- Southern Maori, 1967
- Fendalton, 1967
- Petone, 1967
- Palmerston North, 1967
- Eastern Maori, 1967
- Hutt, 1968
|
|
36th Parliament |
|
|
37th Parliament |
|
|
38th Parliament |
|
|
39th Parliament |
|
|
40th Parliament |
- There were no by-elections during the term of the 40th Parliament.
|
|
41st Parliament |
|
|
42nd Parliament |
- There were no by-elections during the term of the 42nd Parliament.
|
|
43rd Parliament |
|
|
44th Parliament |
|
|