Otago Central or Central Otago was a parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1911 to 1919 as Otago Central; from 1928 to 1957 as Central Otago; and from 1957 to 1978 as Otago Central. It was replaced by the Otago electorate. The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament.
In the 1911 electoral redistribution, the North Island gained a further seat from the South Island due to faster population growth. In addition, there were substantial population movements within each island, and significant changes resulted from this. Only four electorates were unaltered, five electorates were abolished, one former electorate was re-established, and four electorates, including Otago Central, were created for the first time. The Otago Central electorate mostly covered areas that previously belonged to the and electorates, which were both abolished through the 1911 electoral redistribution. Settlements that fell within the original Otago Central electorate included Roxburgh, Alexandra, and Ranfurly.
In the 1918 electoral redistribution, the Otago Central electorate was abolished. Most of its area went to an enlarged electorate, but smaller areas went to the,, and electorates.
In the 1927 electoral redistribution, the North Island gained a further electorate from the South Island due to faster population growth. Five electorates were abolished, two former electorates, including Central Otago, were re-established, and three electorates were created for the first time.
The first representative of the Otago Central electorate was Robert Scott, who was the incumbent from the Tuapeka electorate.
The Otago Central electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament:
Key
| width=100 | Election | width=175 colspan=2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Scott | |||
| Abolished 1919, re-established as Central Otago 1928 | |||
| William Bodkin | |||
| height=8 style="border-top:solid 0 grey; background:" | |||
| rowspan=6 | |||
| bgcolor= | |||
| Renamed as Otago Central 1957 | |||
| Jack George | |||
| bgcolor= | |||
| bgcolor= | |||
| bgcolor= | Warren Cooper | ||
| (Electorate abolished in 1978; see) |
There were three candidates in 1943, with the election won by William Bodkin over James McIndoe Mackay.[1]