# Waitakere (New Zealand electorate)

Waitakere was a parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate was first formed for the 1946 election and existed until 2014, with breaks from 1969 to 1978 and from 1987 to 1993. The last MP for Waitakere was Paula Bennett of the National Party, who had held this position since the 2008 election.

## 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 Waitakere.
Waitakere was based around the western suburbs of Auckland. Given the nature of population growth in greater Auckland, and the addition of three new seats in Auckland, the boundaries of Waitakere moved around at every electoral redistribution; in 1999, they were moved northwards as far as Helensville before being pulled back south three years later. In its last boundaries before abolition, the electorate included the Waitakere City suburbs of Henderson, Rānui and Swanson before heading west over the Waitākere Ranges to Piha.
Waitakere was first abolished in the 1967 electoral redistribution, which resulted from the Electoral Act 1965 that fixed the number of South Island electorates at 25. As a result, three additional electorates were created in the North Island, and one additional in the South Island. One of those new electorates was Henderson, which took over most of Waitakere's area. These changes came into effect with the 1969 election. Henderson existed for three electoral cycles and was abolished again through the 1977 electoral redistribution, when Waitakere was recreated; this came into effect with the 1978 election.
The 1987 electoral redistribution took the continued population growth in the North Island into account, and two additional general electorates were created, bringing the total number of electorates to 97. In the South Island, the shift of population to Christchurch had continued. Overall, three electorates were newly created, three electorates were recreated, and four electorates were abolished (including Waitakere). All of those electorates were in the North Island. Changes in the South Island were restricted to boundary changes. These changes came into effect with the 1987 election. Waitakere was abolished from 1984 to 1993, and then abolished again in 2014 to make way for new electorates Kelston and Upper Harbour.

## History

The Waitakere electorate existed from the 1946 election to 1969, and from the 1978 election to 1987. This seat was held in an unbroken run by Labour for the whole of these two periods.
The name Waitakere was reclaimed and applied to a new seat in 1993, which was expanded ahead of the introduction of Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting in 1996 election at the expense of the former seats of Henderson and Titirangi.
A high turnout for the Alliance in West Auckland in 1996 split the left wing vote and denied then-Titirangi MP and Waitakere candidate Suzanne Sinclair re-election to Parliament, to the benefit of Marie Hasler, also a former Titirangi MP. In 2002 Lynne Pillay was elected over Alliance leader Laila Harré. In 2005 Pillay was re-elected with a five thousand vote majority over National's Paula Bennett. In a nationwide swing towards the National Party in 2008 Bennett managed to unseat Pillay, with a majority of 632.
Carmel Sepuloni was selected by the Labour Party to challenge Paula Bennett for her seat in 2011. On election night, Paula Bennett was thought to have held the seat by 349 votes but after counting 3,130 special votes it was determined that Carmel Sepuloni had won by 11 votes. The National Party requested a judicial recount due to the tightness of the competition (Labour did the same in Christchurch Central, where the Labour candidate was beaten by 45 votes). The outcome of Waitakere's recount was released on 17 December 2011, returning Paula Bennett with a nine-vote majority. The margin was two orders of magnitude smaller than the number of voters who voted while not being on the electoral roll, 393.
In November 2013, it was proposed that the Waitakere electorate be abolished for the 2014 general election. The electorate was mainly subsumed by Helensville, Te Atatū, and the new Kelston electorate, with a small section moving to the new Upper Harbour electorate.

### Members of Parliament

Key
Labour National
| Election | Winner |
| 1946 election | Rex Mason |
| 1949 election | Rex Mason |
| 1951 election | Rex Mason |
| 1954 election | Rex Mason |
| 1957 election | Rex Mason |
| 1960 election | Rex Mason |
| 1963 election | Martyn Finlay |
| 1966 election | Martyn Finlay |
| (Electorate abolished 1969–1978, see Henderson) |||
| 1978 election | Ralph Maxwell |
| 1981 election | Ralph Maxwell |
| 1984 election | Ralph Maxwell |
| (Electorate abolished 1987–1993, see Titirangi and West Auckland) |||
| 1993 election | Brian Neeson |
| 1996 election | Marie Hasler |
| 1999 election | Brian Neeson (2nd period) |
| 2002 election | Lynne Pillay |
| 2005 election | Lynne Pillay |
| 2008 election | Paula Bennett |
| 2011 election | Paula Bennett |
| (Electorate abolished in 2014, see Kelston) |||

### List MPs

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Waitakere electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.
| Election | Winner |
| 1999 election | Jonathan Hunt |
| 2005 election | Paula Bennett |
| 2008 election | Lynne Pillay |

## Election results
### 2011 election

Due to the closeness of the election in Waitakere a judicial recount was undertaken on 16 December and it was confirmed that Bennett has beaten Sepuloni by nine votes on 17 December.
2011 general election: Waitakere :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Y Paula Bennett | Y Paula Bennett | 13,465 | 44.74 | -0.16 | 12,533 | 40.27 | -0.95 |
| | Labour | Carmel Sepuloni | Carmel Sepuloni | 13,456 | 44.71 | +1.88 | 11,579 | 37.21 | -2.57 |
| | Green | Stephen Tollestrup | Stephen Tollestrup | 1,855 | 6.16 | +0.67 | 3,308 | 10.63 | +4.16 |
| | Conservative | Danny Mountain | Danny Mountain | 611 | 2.03 | +2.03 | 753 | 2.42 | +2.42 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Jeff Lye | Jeff Lye | 331 | 1.10 | +1.10 | 166 | 0.53 | +0.01 |
| | Mana | Sue Bradford | Sue Bradford | 322 | 1.06 | +1.06 | 174 | 0.56 | +0.56 |
| | Libertarianz | Peter Osborne | Peter Osborne | 55 | 0.18 | +0.18 | 33 | 0.11 | +0.06 |
| | NZ First | | | | | | 2,011 | 6.46 | +2.91 |
| | ACT | | | | | | 259 | 0.83 | -2.56 |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 168 | 0.54 | -0.23 |
| | United Future | | | | | | 125 | 0.40 | -0.31 |
| | Alliance | | | | | | 9 | 0.03 | -0.10 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 4 | 0.01 | -0.01 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 652 | | | 300 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 30,095 | | | 31,122 | | |
| | National hold | National hold | Majority | 9 | 0.03 | -2.04 | | | |
Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 43,143

### 2008 election

2008 general election: Waitakere :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Paula Bennett | Paula Bennett | 13,704 | 44.90 | +11.83 | 12,952 | 41.22 | +7.05 |
| | Labour | N Lynne Pillay | N Lynne Pillay | 13,072 | 42.83 | -5.98 | 12,498 | 39.77 | -6.88 |
| | Green | Gary Stewart | Gary Stewart | 1,676 | 5.49 | +0.05 | 2,032 | 6.47 | +0.54 |
| | NZ First | Craig McNair | Craig McNair | 597 | 1.96 | -2.36 | 1,117 | 3.55 | -2.07 |
| | ACT | John G Riddell | John G Riddell | 482 | 1.58 | +0.25 | 1,067 | 3.40 | +2.07 |
| | Pacific | Fia Misa Tupou | Fia Misa Tupou | 448 | 1.47 | +1.47 | 398 | 1.27 | +1.27 |
| | Family Party | Michael Kidd | Michael Kidd | 358 | 1.17 | +1.17 | 136 | 0.43 | +0.43 |
| | Independent | Rita Beckmannflay | Rita Beckmannflay | 107 | 0.35 | +0.35 | | | |
| | Alliance | Sandra Ethell | Sandra Ethell | 78 | 0.26 | +0.06 | 42 | 0.13 | +0.02 |
| | Māori Party | | | | | | 241 | 0.77 | +0.10 |
| | Progressive | | | | | | 225 | 0.72 | -0.44 |
| | United Future | | | | | | 224 | 0.71 | -2.23 |
| | Bill and Ben | | | | | | 168 | 0.53 | +0.53 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 166 | 0.53 | +0.26 |
| | Kiwi | | | | | | 106 | 0.34 | +0.34 |
| | Workers Party | | | | | | 15 | 0.05 | +0.05 |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 14 | 0.04 | +0.02 |
| | RAM | | | | | | 10 | 0.03 | +0.03 |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 7 | 0.02 | +0.004 |
| | RONZ | | | | | | 5 | 0.02 | ±0.00 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 300 | | | 149 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 30,522 | | | 31,423 | | |
| | National gain from Labour | National gain from Labour | Majority | 632 | 2.07 | +17.81 | | | |

### 2005 election

2005 general election: Waitakere :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Y Lynne Pillay | Y Lynne Pillay | 15,325 | 48.81 | +10.42 | 14,988 | 46.65 | |
| | National | Paula Bennett | Paula Bennett | 10,383 | 33.07 | +13.41 | 10,976 | 34.16 | |
| | Green | David Clendon | David Clendon | 1,709 | 5.44 | | 1,903 | 5.92 | |
| | NZ First | Brendon Stewart | Brendon Stewart | 1,354 | 4.31 | | 1,806 | 5.62 | |
| | United Future | Hannah Baral | Hannah Baral | 1,035 | 3.30 | | 944 | 2.94 | |
| | ACT | John Riddell | John Riddell | 416 | 1.33 | | 427 | 1.33 | |
| | Destiny | Stan Green | Stan Green | 394 | 1.25 | | 227 | 0.71 | |
| | Progressive | David Parkyn | David Parkyn | 293 | 0.93 | | 370 | 1.15 | |
| | Māori Party | Charles Joe | Charles Joe | 272 | 0.87 | | 213 | 0.66 | |
| | Direct Democracy | Alona Covich | Alona Covich | 79 | 0.25 | | 33 | 0.10 | |
| | Family Rights | John Ulberg | John Ulberg | 74 | 0.24 | | 28 | 0.09 | |
| | Alliance | Sandra Ethell | Sandra Ethell | 62 | 0.20 | -27.37 | 36 | 0.11 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 87 | 0.27 | |
| | Christian Heritage | | | | | | 58 | 0.18 | |
| | Libertarianz | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | |
| | 99 MP | | | | | | 7 | 0.02 | |
| | Democrats | | | | | | 6 | 0.02 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 5 | 0.02 | |
| | RONZ | | | | | | 5 | 0.02 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 271 | | | 127 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 31,396 | | | 32,127 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Majority | 4,942 | 15.74 | +7.08 | | | |

### 2002 election

2002 general election: Waitakere :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lynne Pillay | Lynne Pillay | 9,756 | 35.95 | | 12,868 | 46.68 | |
| | Alliance | Laila Harré | Laila Harré | 7,423 | 27.35 | | 667 | 2.41 | |
| | National | Marie Hasler | Marie Hasler | 5,295 | 19.51 | | 3,848 | 13.96 | |
| | NZ First | Arthur Albert | Arthur Albert | 1,249 | 4.60 | | 2,924 | 10.60 | |
| | Green | Meriel Anne Watts | Meriel Anne Watts | 1,154 | 4.25 | | 2,194 | 7.95 | |
| | United Future | Graeme Torkler | Graeme Torkler | 802 | 2.95 | | 1,861 | 6.75 | |
| | ACT | John G Riddell | John G Riddell | 650 | 2.39 | | 1,860 | 6.74 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Madeleine Jane Flannagan | Madeleine Jane Flannagan | 380 | 1.40 | | 414 | 1.50 | |
| | Progressive | David Parkin | David Parkin | 218 | 0.80 | | 425 | 1.54 | |
| | ORNZ | | | | | | 215 | 0.78 | |
| | Legalise Cannabis | | | | | | 170 | 0.62 | |
| | One NZ | | | | | | 14 | 0.05 | |
| | Mana Māori | | | | | | 8 | 0.02 | |
| | NMP | | | | | | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 95 | | | 204 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 27,131 | | | 27,563 | | |
| | Labour gain from National | Labour gain from National | Majority | 2,333 | 8.60 | | | | |

### 1999 election

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

### 1993 election

1993 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | National | Brian Neeson | 8,283 | 41.96 |
| | Labour | Barbara Hutchinson | 5,103 | 25.85 |
| | Alliance | Peter Maddison | 3,933 | 19.92 |
| | NZ First | Alf Lake | 1,683 | 8.52 |
| | Christian Heritage | Gary Rae | 366 | 1.85 |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | Allan Martin-Buss | 171 | 0.86 |
| | Independent | Trevor Cullen | 120 | 0.60 |
| | Natural Law | Kay Morgan | 81 | 0.41 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,180 | 16.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,740 | 83.73 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,573 | |

### 1984 election

1984 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ralph Maxwell | 9,926 | 48.28 | +5.54 |
| | National | John McIntosh | 5,452 | 26.51 | |
| | NZ Party | Marsha Maxine Marshall | 3,224 | 15.68 | |
| | Social Credit | Pat Wojcik | 1,872 | 9.10 | −19.10 |
| | Independent | Blanche Victoria Holloway | 85 | 0.41 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,474 | 21.76 | +8.07 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,559 | 91.49 | +2.31 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,471 | | |

### 1981 election

1981 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ralph Maxwell | 8,996 | 42.74 | −1.27 |
| | National | Martin Gummer | 6,113 | 29.04 | |
| | Social Credit | Pat Wojcik | 5,935 | 28.20 | +9.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,883 | 13.69 | +3.39 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,044 | 89.18 | +16.78 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,595 | | |

### 1978 election

1978 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ralph Maxwell | 8,612 | 44.01 |
| | National | Bill Haresnape | 6,596 | 33.71 |
| | Social Credit | Pat Wojcik | 3,731 | 19.06 |
| | Values | Sandy Gauntlett | 452 | 2.31 |
| | Socialist Action | B A Jones | 174 | 0.88 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,016 | 10.30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,565 | 72.40 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,021 | |

### 1966 election

1966 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Martyn Finlay | 9,256 | 52.39 | −2.14 |
| | National | Peter Wilkinson | 5,443 | 30.80 | |
| | Social Credit | Keith Edward Donald Robertson | 2,968 | 16.79 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,813 | 21.58 | +3.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,667 | 86.61 | −2.63 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,398 | | |

### 1963 election

1963 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Martyn Finlay | 8,751 | 54.53 | |
| | National | Horace Alexander Nash | 5,856 | 36.49 | |
| | Social Credit | George Eric Sutherland | 1,079 | 6.72 | |
| | Liberal | Alan Charles Warden | 216 | 1.34 | |
| | Communist | Vic Wilcox | 144 | 0.89 | −0.16 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,895 | 18.04 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,046 | 89.24 | −0.53 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,979 | | |

### 1960 election

1960 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rex Mason | 10,680 | 55.94 | −1.78 |
| | National | John Herbert Wilkinson | 6,971 | 36.51 | |
| | Social Credit | Keith Edward Donald Robertson | 1,239 | 6.48 | −1.02 |
| | Communist | Vic Wilcox | 201 | 1.05 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,895 | 15.16 | −7.78 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,091 | 89.77 | −4.07 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,265 | | |

### 1957 election

1957 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rex Mason | 9,263 | 57.72 | +1.31 |
| | National | Leonard Bradley | 5,581 | 34.77 | |
| | Social Credit | Keith Edward Donald Robertson | 1,204 | 7.50 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,682 | 22.94 | +1.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,048 | 93.84 | +3.09 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,100 | | |

### 1954 election

1954 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rex Mason | 8,914 | 56.41 | +9.49 |
| | National | Jim McAllister | 5,490 | 34.74 | |
| | Social Credit | Norman Monteith | 1,397 | 8.84 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,424 | 21.66 | +18.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,801 | 90.75 | +0.20 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,411 | | |

### 1951 election

1951 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rex Mason | 9,132 | 46.92 | +4.76 |
| | National | Robert Tapper | 8,491 | 43.62 | +2.30 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 641 | 3.29 | −2.47 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,623 | 90.55 | −3.65 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,462 | | |

### 1949 election

1949 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rex Mason | 8,341 | 51.68 | −7.46 |
| | National | Robert Tapper | 7,411 | 45.92 | |
| | Communist | George Jackson | 386 | 2.39 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 930 | 5.76 | −14.20 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,138 | 94.20 | +0.10 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,131 | | |

### 1946 election

1946 general election: Waitakere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Rex Mason | 8,285 | 59.14 |
| | National | Archibald Morrison Laing | 5,488 | 39.17 |
| | Independent | Frederick Allen | 235 | 1.67 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,797 | 19.96 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,008 | 94.30 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,854 | |