Whangārei (New Zealand electorate) explained

Whangārei
Parl Name:New Zealand House of Representatives
Map2:Whangarei electorate, 2014
Map Entity:Whangārei
Map Year:2014
Year:1972
Type:Single-member
Blank1 Name:Current MP
Blank1 Info:Shane Reti
Blank2 Name:Party
Blank2 Info:National
Region:Northland
Towns:Whangārei

Whangārei (formerly Whangarei) is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate that was first created for the . The electorate is usually a reasonably safe National seat, and was held for long periods by John Banks (–1999) and Phil Heatley (–2014), before being won in the by Shane Reti. In the Reti narrowly lost the seat to Labour's Emily Henderson. Reti would reclaim the seat at the with a huge majority.

Population centres

Since the, the number of electorates in the South Island was fixed at 25, with continued faster population growth in the North Island leading to an increase in the number of general electorates. There were 84 electorates for the 1969 election, and the 1972 electoral redistribution saw three additional general seats created for the North Island, bringing the total number of electorates to 87. Together with increased urbanisation in Christchurch and Nelson, the changes proved very disruptive to existing electorates. In the South Island, three electorates were abolished, and three electorates were newly created. In the North Island, five electorates were abolished, two electorates were recreated, and six electorates were newly created (including Whangārei).

The boundaries of the Whangārei electorate were adjusted for the ; before then, the electorate bordered onto the Kaipara Harbour. Redistributions in 2002,[1] 2007,[2] and 2013/14[3] did not change the boundaries further. Changes ahead of the moved Poroti and Maungakaramea into the Northland electorate[4] and also change the electorate's name from Whangarei to Whangārei.

The electorate includes the following population centres:

It extends from Hikurangi in the north to Ruatangata and Maungatapere in the west and Waipu and Langs Beach in the south.

History

The electorate was created for the . It was won by the Labour Party in that election, but was then held by the National Party until 2020. Phil Heatley held it from [5] until he retired in 2014.[6] Shane Reti stood for National in the and had a large margin over Labour's Kelly Ellis.[7] [8]

Members of Parliament

Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at a general election.

Key

width=100Electionwidth=175 colspan=2 Winner
bgcolor=Murray Smith
John Elliott
John Banks
Phil Heatley
Shane Reti
bgcolor=Emily Henderson
bgcolor=Shane Reti

List MPs

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Whangārei electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

width=100Electionwidth=175 colspan=2 Winner
width=5 bgcolor=Brian Donnelly
bgcolor=Muriel Newman
width=5 bgcolor=Brian Donnelly (2nd time)
bgcolor=Muriel Newman (2nd time)
width=5 bgcolor=Brian Donnelly (3rd time)
bgcolor=Muriel Newman (3rd time)
width=5 bgcolor=Brian Donnelly (4th time) 1
width=5 bgcolor=Pita Paraone
width=5 bgcolor=Shane Jones
width=5 bgcolor=Shane Reti
1Donnelly resigned in February 2008 when appointed High Commissioner to the Cook Islands

Election results

2011 election

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 46,511[9]

1999 election

Refer to Candidates in the New Zealand general election 1999 by electorate#Whangarei for a list of candidates.

1972 election

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Report of the Representation Commission 2002 . 0-478-20169-9 . Representation Commission . 4 October 2014 . 8 . 21 March 2002.
  2. Book: Report of the Representation Commission 2007 . 978-0-477-10414-2 . Representation Commission . 4 October 2014 . 8 . 14 September 2007.
  3. Book: Report of the Representation Commission 2014 . 978-0-477-10414-2 . Representation Commission . 4 October 2014 . 8 . 4 April 2014.
  4. Web site: Map of electorates for the 2020 and 2023 elections . 17 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Hon Phil Heatley . . 21 October 2014 . 22 September 2014.
  6. News: Vance . Andrea . MP Phil Heatley to Retire . 1 November 2013 . . 1 November 2013.
  7. News: Watkins . Tracy . Labour announces Chch Central candidate . 10 March 2014 . . 10 March 2014 . A2.
  8. News: Election 2014: Shane Reti wins Whangarei . 27 September 2014 . . 20 September 2014.
  9. Web site: Enrolment statistics . Electoral Commission . 26 November 2011 . 28 November 2011.