Northern Maori by-election, 1980

Northern Maori by-election, 1980
New Zealand
7 June 1980

Turnout 6,831
 
Candidate Bruce Gregory Matiu Rata H Te K Toia
Party Labour Mana Motuhake Social Credit
Popular vote 3,580 2,589 560
Percentage 52.41 37.90 8.20

Member before election

Matiu Rata
Labour

Elected Member

Bruce Gregory
Labour

The Northern Maori by-election of 1980 was a by-election for the Northern Maori electorate during the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It was prompted by the resignation of Matiu Rata, a former member of the Labour Party who was establishing a new group, Mana Motuhake. Rata believed that contesting a by-election would give him a mandate for his change of allegiance. In the end, however, the seat was won by Bruce Gregory, the new Labour Party candidate.

Northern Maori by-election, 1980
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bruce Gregory 3,580 52.41
Mana Motuhake Matiu Rata 2,589 37.90
Social Credit H Te K Toia 560 8.20
Cheer Up W Hetaraka 80 1.17
Christian Democrat (1980) Tom Weal 13 0.19
Reform Party (1980) P Te W Warner 9 0.13
Majority 991 14.51
Turnout 6,831 41.38
Labour hold Swing

References