# Egmont (New Zealand electorate)

Egmont is a former New Zealand electorate, in south Taranaki. It existed from 1871 to 1978.

## Geographic coverage

Egmont is the old name of the mountain that is the Taranaki landmark of Mount Taranaki. A village north of the mountain is also called Egmont.

## History

This rural electorate was formed in 1871. Mount Egmont, after which it is named, was confiscated from Māori by the New Zealand Government under the powers of the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863, following the Second Taranaki War.
William Gisborne was the first elected representative in 1871, elected unopposed. He was a minister in the third Fox Ministry and resigned from Parliament when the government fell on 10 September 1872. Harry Atkinson won the resulting 1872 by-election. He held the electorate until 1891, when he resigned. During this time, he was Premier on four occasions.
Atkinson's resignation caused the 1891 by-election, which was won by Felix McGuire. He held the electorate until 1896, when he (successfully) stood for the Hawera electorate instead. He was succeeded by Walter Symes from 1896 until 1902, when he (successfully) stood for Patea. The next representative was William Thomas Jennings from 1902 until 1908, when he (successfully) stood for Taumarunui.
Bradshaw Dive was elected in 1908 and held the electorate for one term. He was defeated in 1911 by Thomas Mackenzie, who resigned in 1912. Charles Wilkinson won the resulting 1912 by-election and retired in 1919. He was succeeded by Oswald Hawken, who won the 1919 election, but was defeated in 1928 by Wilkinson coming out of his retirement. This time, Wilkinson held the electorate until 1943, when he retired for good.
The electorate was then held by three members of the National Party; Ernest Corbett (1943–57), William Sheat (1957–66) and Venn Young (1966–78).
Egmont was abolished in 1978, and was replaced by the Waitotara electorate.

### Members of Parliament

Egmont was represented by twelve Members of Parliament:
Key
Independent Conservative Liberal Reform National
| Election | Winner |
| 1871 election | William Gisborne |
| 1872 by-election | Harry Atkinson |
| 1876 election | Harry Atkinson |
| 1879 election | Harry Atkinson |
| 1881 election | Harry Atkinson |
| 1884 election | Harry Atkinson |
| 1887 election | Harry Atkinson |
| 1890 election | Harry Atkinson |
| 1891 by-election | Felix McGuire |
| 1893 election | Felix McGuire |
| 1896 election | Walter Symes |
| 1899 election | Walter Symes |
| 1902 election | William Jennings |
| 1905 election | William Jennings |
| 1908 election | Bradshaw Dive |
| 1911 election | Thomas Mackenzie |
| 1912 by-election | Charles Wilkinson |
| 1914 election | Charles Wilkinson |
| 1919 election | Oswald Hawken |
| 1922 election | Oswald Hawken |
| 1925 election | Oswald Hawken |
| 1928 election | Charles Wilkinson |
| 1931 election | Charles Wilkinson |
| 1935 election | Charles Wilkinson |
| 1938 election | Charles Wilkinson |
| 1943 election | Ernest Corbett |
| 1946 election | Ernest Corbett |
| 1949 election | Ernest Corbett |
| 1951 election | Ernest Corbett |
| 1954 election | Ernest Corbett |
| 1957 election | William Sheat |
| 1960 election | William Sheat |
| 1963 election | William Sheat |
| 1966 election | Venn Young |
| 1969 election | Venn Young |
| 1972 election | Venn Young |
| 1975 election | Venn Young |
| (Electorate abolished 1978) |||

## Election results
### 1931 election

1931 general election: Egmont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Charles Wilkinson | 4,409 | 58.71 |
| | Reform | Frederick Gawith | 3,101 | 41.29 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,308 | 17.42 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 27 | 0.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,537 | 85.71 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,794 | |

### 1928 election

1928 general election: Egmont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Charles Wilkinson | 4,577 | 58.17 |
| | Reform | Oswald Hawken | 3,291 | 41.83 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,286 | 16.34 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 55 | 0.69 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,923 | 91.46 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,663 | |

### 1912 by-election

1912 Egmont by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Charles Wilkinson | 2,721 | 55.9 |
| | Liberal | David Lyon Abbott Astbury | 2,139 | 43.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 11 | 0.20 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 582 | 12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,871 | |
| | Reform gain from Liberal | Reform gain from Liberal | Swing | |

### 1905 election

1905 general election: Egmont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | William Thomas Jennings | 2,621 | 53.39 |
| | Independent Liberal | Charles Leech | 1,970 | 40.13 |
| | Socialist | Harry Campbell | 215 | 4.37 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 103 | 2.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 651 | 13.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,909 | |

### 1899 election

1899 general election: Egmont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Walter Symes | 2,253 | 53.16 |
| | Conservative | William Monkhouse | 1,985 | 46.84 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 268 | 6.32 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,238 | 76.71 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,525 | |

### 1893 election

1893 general election: Egmont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Felix McGuire | 1,305 | 48.88 |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Robbins | 1,170 | 43.82 |
| | Liberal | E. G. Allsworth | 195 | 7.30 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 135 | 5.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,670 | 72.81 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,667 | |

### 1891 by-election

1891 Egmont by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Felix McGuire | 986 | 51.92 |
| | Independent | Robert Bruce | 913 | 48.04 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73 | 3.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,899 | |

### 1890 election

1890 general election: Egmont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Harry Atkinson | 1,096 | 58.08 |
| | Independent | Felix McGuire | 791 | 41.92 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 305 | 16.16 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,887 | 70.72 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,668 | |