# Island Bay (New Zealand electorate)

Island Bay was a former New Zealand electorate, centred on Island Bay in the southern suburbs of Wellington. The electorate was formed in 1946 and dissolved in 1996.

## Population centres

The 1941 New Zealand census had been postponed due to World War II, so the 1946 electoral redistribution had to take ten years of population growth and movements into account. The North Island gained a further two electorates from the South Island due to faster population growth. The abolition of the country quota through the Electoral Amendment Act, 1945 reduced the number and increased the size of rural electorates. None of the existing electorates remained unchanged, 27 electorates were abolished, eight former electorates were re-established, and 19 electorates were created for the first time, including Island Bay.

## History

The electorate was held by five MPs from the Labour Party for the whole of its existence from 1946 to 1996. Robert McKeen was the first representative; he had since the 1922 election represented the Wellington South electorate. McKeen was the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1947 to 1950. He retired from Parliament in 1954.
McKeen was succeeded by Arnold Nordmeyer in the 1954 election. Nordmeyer was Minister of Finance in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960, and is remembered for the black budget which contributed to Labour's defeat in 1960. Nordmeyer had moved to the Island Bay electorate when the Brooklyn electorate was abolished.
Gerald O'Brien was deselected by Labour for the electorate in 1978, and ran against the new Labour candidate Frank O'Flynn. O'Flynn was Minister of Defence in the Fourth Labour Government from 1984 to 1987.

### Members of Parliament

Key
Labour
| Elections | Winner |
| 1946 election | Robert McKeen |
| 1949 election | Robert McKeen |
| 1951 election | Robert McKeen |
| 1954 election | Arnold Nordmeyer |
| 1957 election | Arnold Nordmeyer |
| 1960 election | Arnold Nordmeyer |
| 1963 election | Arnold Nordmeyer |
| 1966 election | Arnold Nordmeyer |
| 1969 election | Gerald O'Brien |
| 1972 election | Gerald O'Brien |
| 1975 election | Gerald O'Brien |
| 1978 election | Frank O'Flynn |
| 1981 election | Frank O'Flynn |
| 1984 election | Frank O'Flynn |
| 1987 election | Elizabeth Tennet |
| 1990 election | Elizabeth Tennet |
| 1993 election | Elizabeth Tennet |
| (Electorate abolished in 1996; see Rongotai) |||

## Election results
### 1993 election

1993 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elizabeth Tennet | 10,110 | 49.02 | +0.87 |
| | National | Chris Shields | 4,688 | 22.73 | |
| | Alliance | Vernon Tile | 3,809 | 18.47 | |
| | NZ First | Paul Douche | 926 | 4.49 | +3.94 |
| | Christian Heritage | Brian Fleming | 479 | 2.32 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | Samuel Buchanan | 451 | 2.18 | |
| | Natural Law | Bruce Brown | 158 | 0.76 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,422 | 26.29 | +6.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,621 | 84.45 | +2.59 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,417 | | |

### 1990 election

1990 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elizabeth Tennet | 9,034 | 48.15 | −16.19 |
| | National | Ann Nolan | 5,399 | 28.77 | |
| | Green | Gillian Hope | 2,343 | 12.48 | |
| | NewLabour | Dallas Moore | 1,342 | 7.15 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | C H Smith | 205 | 1.09 | |
| | Independent | Ian Bartram | 125 | 0.66 | −1.47 |
| | People's Party | Warwick Taylor | 115 | 0.61 | |
| | Social Credit | Paul Douche | 104 | 0.55 | |
| | Independent | R J C Gilberd | 37 | 0.19 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,635 | 19.37 | −18.45 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,761 | 81.86 | −3.23 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,918 | | |

### 1987 election

1987 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elizabeth Tennet | 12,439 | 64.34 | |
| | National | Sandra Clarke | 5,126 | 26.51 | |
| | Democrats | E H Low | 503 | 2.60 | |
| | Independent | Ian Bartram | 413 | 2.13 | |
| | People's Party | Christopher Ellis | 408 | 2.11 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | Katerina Jane Julian | 214 | 1.10 | |
| | NZ Party | G T Parker | 121 | 0.62 | |
| | Imperial British Conservative | K J Quinn | 109 | 0.56 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,313 | 37.82 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,333 | 85.09 | −5.94 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,719 | | |

### 1984 election

1984 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank O'Flynn | 10,495 | 52.95 | +0.04 |
| | National | John Kananghinis | 4,488 | 22.64 | |
| | NZ Party | Peter Button | 4,048 | 20.42 | |
| | Social Credit | Paul Douche | 477 | 2.40 | |
| | Values | Bruce Symondson | 220 | 1.11 | |
| | Independent | Bill Maung | 89 | 0.44 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,007 | 30.31 | +8.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,817 | 91.03 | +3.67 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,768 | | |

### 1981 election

1981 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank O'Flynn | 9,723 | 52.91 | +17.51 |
| | National | Doug Catley | 5,785 | 31.48 | |
| | Social Credit | Ron England | 2,747 | 14.94 | |
| | Private Enterprise | Frank Moncur | 120 | 0.65 | +0.60 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,938 | 21.43 | +17.91 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,375 | 87.36 | +30.56 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,032 | | |

### 1978 election

1978 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank O'Flynn | 6,524 | 35.40 | |
| | National | Bill Nathan | 5,874 | 31.88 | −8.73 |
| | Independent Labour | Gerald O'Brien | 3,632 | 19.71 | −28.63 |
| | Social Credit | Robyn Smith | 1,502 | 8.15 | |
| | Values | Raewyn Good | 751 | 4.07 | |
| | Independent | J C Bailey | 65 | 0.35 | |
| | Socialist Action | Pat Starkey | 33 | 0.17 | |
| | Tory | Tony Catford | 21 | 0.11 | |
| | Independent National | Frank Moncur | 12 | 0.06 | −0.09 |
| | Independent | Robert Williamson | 11 | 0.05 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 650 | 3.52 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,425 | 56.80 | −19.85 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32,433 | | |

### 1975 election

1975 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gerald O'Brien | 7,964 | 48.34 | −7.13 |
| | National | Bill Nathan | 6,690 | 40.61 | |
| | Values | Peter Rutherford | 1,065 | 4.46 | |
| | Social Credit | Tom McLean | 675 | 4.09 | |
| | Socialist Action | Kay Goodger | 44 | 0.26 | |
| | Feminist | Ron Megget | 29 | 0.17 | |
| | Independent National | Frank Moncur | 26 | 0.15 | −0.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,274 | 7.73 | −15.48 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,473 | 76.65 | −11.98 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,489 | | |

### 1972 election

1972 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gerald O'Brien | 8,352 | 55.47 | +5.08 |
| | National | Bruce Farland | 4,857 | 32.25 | |
| | Values | Tony Brunt | 1,148 | 7.62 | |
| | Social Credit | Colin Whitmill | 559 | 3.71 | −0.61 |
| | New Democratic | Donald McMillan | 95 | 0.63 | |
| | Independent National | Frank Moncur | 45 | 0.29 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,495 | 23.21 | +14.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,056 | 88.63 | +4.14 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,986 | | |

### 1969 election

1969 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gerald O'Brien | 7,374 | 50.39 | |
| | National | Fairlie Curry | 6,026 | 41.18 | |
| | Social Credit | Colin Whitmill | 633 | 4.32 | |
| | Independent | Fay Lambert | 598 | 4.08 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,348 | 9.21 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,631 | 84.49 | −5.60 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,316 | | |

### 1966 election

1966 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arnold Nordmeyer | 7,267 | 53.71 | −1.25 |
| | National | Saul Goldsmith | 4,461 | 32.97 | |
| | Social Credit | K A Marshall | 1,487 | 10.99 | |
| | Democratic | John Albert Cameron | 174 | 1.28 | −3.38 |
| | Communist | Ron Smith | 139 | 1.02 | −0.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,806 | 20.74 | +5.07 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,528 | 78.89 | −8.54 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,147 | | |

### 1963 election

1963 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arnold Nordmeyer | 8,372 | 54.96 | +1.70 |
| | National | Fairlie Curry | 5,984 | 39.28 | −1.19 |
| | Social Credit | John Albert Cameron | 711 | 4.66 | −0.68 |
| | Communist | Ron Smith | 164 | 1.07 | +0.16 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,388 | 15.67 | +2.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,231 | 87.43 | +1.47 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,419 | | |

### 1960 election

1960 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arnold Nordmeyer | 7,459 | 53.26 | −7.90 |
| | National | Fairlie Curry | 5,668 | 40.47 | |
| | Social Credit | John Albert Cameron | 748 | 5.34 | |
| | Communist | Ron Smith | 128 | 0.91 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,791 | 12.79 | −14.69 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,003 | 85.96 | −5.24 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,290 | | |

### 1957 election

1957 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arnold Nordmeyer | 9,368 | 61.16 | +2.68 |
| | National | Saul Goldsmith | 5,159 | 33.68 | |
| | Social Credit | Eric Elliott | 683 | 4.45 | |
| | Communist | Ray Nunes | 105 | 0.68 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,209 | 27.48 | +1.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,315 | 91.20 | +3.91 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,792 | | |

### 1954 election

1954 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arnold Nordmeyer | 8,594 | 58.48 | |
| | National | John Maurice Whitta | 5,159 | 35.10 | |
| | Social Credit | Daniel Gardiner | 821 | 5.58 | |
| | Communist | Ron Smith | 120 | 0.81 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,824 | 26.02 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,694 | 87.29 | −1.37 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,833 | | |

### 1951 election

1951 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert McKeen | 6,735 | 56.64 | −4.06 |
| | National | J E Duncan | 5,055 | 42.51 | |
| | Communist | Connie Birchfield | 99 | 0.83 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,680 | 14.13 | −8.79 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,889 | 85.92 | −2.82 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,837 | | |

### 1949 election

1949 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert McKeen | 7,335 | 60.70 | −3.24 |
| | National | Herbert Edward Childs | 4,565 | 37.78 | +4.38 |
| | Communist | Ron Smith | 184 | 1.52 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 86 | 0.71 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,770 | 22.92 | −7.60 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,170 | 88.74 | −0.63 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,714 | | |

### 1946 election

1946 general election: Island Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Robert McKeen | 8,290 | 63.94 |
| | National | Herbert Edward Childs | 4,332 | 33.40 |
| | Communist | Brian Berg | 345 | 2.66 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,958 | 30.52 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,967 | 89.37 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,509 | |