| Election Name: | 1917 Hawkes Bay by-election |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Flag Year: | 1917 |
| Type: | By-election |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1914 New Zealand general election |
| Previous Year: | 1914 general |
| Next Election: | 1919 New Zealand general election |
| Next Year: | 1919 general |
| Election Date: | 8 March 1917 |
| Turnout: | 4,858 (48.82%) |
| Candidate1: | Sir John Findlay |
| Party1: | New Zealand Liberal Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,635 |
| Percentage1: | 54.24 |
| Candidate2: | H. Ian Simson |
| Party2: | Liberal–Labour (New Zealand) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,164 |
| Percentage2: | 44.54 |
| Member | |
| Before Election: | Robert McNab |
| After Election: | Sir John Findlay |
| Before Party: | New Zealand Liberal Party |
| After Party: | New Zealand Liberal Party |
| Result: | Liberal hold |
The 1917 Hawkes Bay by-election was a by-election held in the eastern North Island electorate of during the 19th New Zealand Parliament, on 8 March 1917.
It was caused by the death of incumbent MP Robert McNab,[1] and was won by fellow party Liberal Party member Sir John Findlay with a majority of 471 votes.
Under the terms of the coalition agreement between Reform and the Liberals a condition was made not to oppose each other in by-elections for deceased or retiring MPs from their own parties. As the deceased MP for this electorate was a Liberal the Reform Party did not contest the seat, and endorsed the Liberal's official candidate as a sign of goodwill and wartime unity. The newly formed Labour Party chose not to stand a candidate, but there was rumour that former MP for, Harry Atmore was considering standing in "Labour" interests.[2] This did not eventuate.
Sir John Findlay was chosen by the Liberal Party to contest the seat, he was a former Legislative Councillor and served in Sir Joseph Ward's cabinet from 1906 to 1911 as Attorney-General and later as Minister of Justice. Former MP Alfred Fraser previously sought the Liberal nomination, however he retired from the contest,[2] yet 9 votes were still cast for him.
H. Ian Simson also stood in support of the National Government and was Findlay's only real competition for the seat.[2]
The following table gives the election results:
Findlay held the seat until the next general election and then retired.