# Hastings (New Zealand electorate)

Hastings was a parliamentary electorate in the Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand from 1946 to 1996. The electorate was represented by nine Members of Parliament. The Hastings electorate was a typical bellwether electorate, frequently changing between the two main parties.

## 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 Hastings. The towns of Hastings and Havelock North have always been located within the electorate until the 1987 electoral redistribution, whereas the nearby Fernhill was always included in the adjacent Hawke's Bay electorate.

## History

The first representative was Ted Cullen of the Labour Party. At the 1949 election, Cullen was defeated by Sydney Jones of the National Party. After two electoral terms, Jones was in turn defeated by Labour's Ted Keating, who served until his defeat in 1960. Subsequent office holders were Duncan MacIntyre (1960–1972), Richard Mayson (1972–1975), Bob Fenton (1975–1978), David Butcher (1978–1990), Jeff Whittaker (1990–1993), and Rick Barker (1993–1996).

### Members of Parliament

The Hastings electorate was represented by nine Members of Parliament:
Key
Labour  National
| Election | Winner |
| 1946 election | Ted Cullen |
| 1949 election | Sydney Jones |
| 1951 election | Sydney Jones |
| 1954 election | Ted Keating |
| 1957 election | Ted Keating |
| 1960 election | Duncan MacIntyre |
| 1963 election | Duncan MacIntyre |
| 1966 election | Duncan MacIntyre |
| 1969 election | Duncan MacIntyre |
| 1972 election | Richard Mayson |
| 1975 election | Bob Fenton |
| 1978 election | David Butcher |
| 1981 election | David Butcher |
| 1984 election | David Butcher |
| 1987 election | David Butcher |
| 1990 election | Jeff Whittaker |
| 1993 election | Rick Barker |
| (Electorate abolished in 1996; see Tukituki) |||

## Election results
### 1993 election

1993 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rick Barker | 9,000 | 45.02 | |
| | National | Cynthia Bowers | 6,429 | 32.16 | |
| | Alliance | Pat Weir | 2,689 | 13.45 | |
| | NZ First | John Waitere | 932 | 4.66 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Rex Jones | 640 | 3.20 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | John Morrison | 128 | 0.64 | |
| | Independent | Geoffrey Charters | 104 | 0.52 | −0.60 |
| | Natural Law | Martin Ouseley | 66 | 0.33 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,571 | 12.86 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,988 | 86.19 | +0.01 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,188 | | |

### 1990 election

1990 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Jeff Whittaker | 9,132 | 45.96 | +3.55 |
| | Labour | David Butcher | 8,404 | 42.29 | −11.54 |
| | Green | Matthew Ball | 1,246 | 6.27 | |
| | NewLabour | Greg Maher | 688 | 3.46 | |
| | Independent | Geoffrey Charters | 223 | 1.12 | |
| | Democrats | Mary Sanders | 176 | 0.88 | −2.87 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 728 | 3.66 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,869 | 86.18 | −3.46 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,055 | | |

### 1987 election

1987 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Butcher | 10,879 | 53.83 | +2.62 |
| | National | Jeff Whittaker | 8,572 | 42.41 | |
| | Democrats | Mary Sanders | 758 | 3.75 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,307 | 11.41 | −8.16 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,209 | 89.64 | −3.54 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,544 | | |

### 1984 election

1984 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Butcher | 11,179 | 51.21 | +5.97 |
| | National | Peter Brown | 6,906 | 31.64 | |
| | NZ Party | Sara Slavin | 2,803 | 12.84 | |
| | Social Credit | John Rabarts | 938 | 4.29 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,273 | 19.57 | +10.74 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,826 | 93.18 | +1.78 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,423 | | |

### 1981 election

1981 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Butcher | 9,453 | 45.24 | +7.82 |
| | National | Hamish Kynoch | 7,608 | 36.41 | |
| | Social Credit | Gary Clover | 3,764 | 18.01 | |
| | Independent | A J L D Wedekind | 68 | 0.32 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,845 | 8.83 | +7.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,893 | 91.40 | +19.95 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,857 | | |

### 1978 election

1978 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Butcher | 7,748 | 37.42 | |
| | National | Bob Fenton | 7,414 | 35.81 | −9.48 |
| | Social Credit | Jeremy Dwyer | 5,373 | 25.95 | +17.03 |
| | Values | C L Amery | 148 | 0.71 | |
| | Independent | R MacGregor | 20 | 0.09 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 334 | 1.61 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,703 | 71.45 | −14.07 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,972 | | |

### 1975 election

1975 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Bob Fenton | 9,071 | 45.29 | |
| | Labour | Richard Mayson | 8,580 | 42.84 | −7.52 |
| | Social Credit | Jeremy Dwyer | 1,788 | 8.92 | |
| | Values | Graeme Cook | 587 | 2.93 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 491 | 2.45 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,026 | 85.52 | −5.36 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,415 | | |

### 1972 election

1972 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard Mayson | 9,117 | 50.36 | +5.74 |
| | National | Duncan MacIntyre | 7,969 | 44.02 | −4.66 |
| | Social Credit | George Neville Whitcombe | 663 | 3.66 | −3.03 |
| | Values | Robin Duff | 304 | 1.67 | |
| | New Democratic | Gwendoline Alice Dick | 50 | 0.27 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,148 | 6.34 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,103 | 90.88 | +0.97 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,918 | | |

### 1969 election

1969 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Duncan MacIntyre | 8,458 | 48.68 | −2.61 |
| | Labour | Richard Mayson | 7,752 | 44.62 | |
| | Social Credit | George Neville Whitcombe | 1,163 | 6.69 | −3.38 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 706 | 4.06 | −8.59 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,373 | 89.91 | +1.27 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,321 | | |

### 1966 election

1966 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Duncan MacIntyre | 8,626 | 51.29 | −1.64 |
| | Labour | Sonja Davies | 6,497 | 38.63 | |
| | Social Credit | George Neville Whitcombe | 1,695 | 10.07 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,129 | 12.65 | +0.85 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,818 | 88.64 | −3.87 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,973 | | |

### 1963 election

1963 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Duncan MacIntyre | 8,719 | 52.93 | +5.14 |
| | Labour | Ted Keating | 6,775 | 41.14 | −4.86 |
| | Social Credit | George Thew | 978 | 5.93 | −1.88 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,944 | 11.80 | +10.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,472 | 92.51 | +1.86 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,804 | | |

### 1960 election

1960 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Duncan MacIntyre | 7,965 | 47.79 | |
| | Labour | Ted Keating | 7,665 | 46.00 | −5.11 |
| | Social Credit | George Thew | 1,302 | 7.81 | +2.93 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 | 1.80 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,662 | 90.65 | −3.04 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,379 | | |

### 1957 election

1957 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ted Keating | 8,146 | 50.89 | +4.28 |
| | National | Arthur Heary Sievewright | 7,076 | 44.21 | |
| | Social Credit | George Thew | 782 | 4.88 | −3.53 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,070 | 6.68 | +5.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,004 | 93.69 | −0.15 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,081 | | |

### 1954 election

1954 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ted Keating | 7,087 | 46.61 | |
| | National | Sydney Jones | 6,835 | 44.96 | −8.76 |
| | Social Credit | George Thew | 1,280 | 8.41 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 252 | 1.65 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,202 | 93.84 | +4.56 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,199 | | |

### 1951 election

1951 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Sydney Jones | 8,198 | 53.72 | +0.44 |
| | Labour | Henry Edward Beattie | 7,060 | 46.27 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,138 | 7.45 | +0.89 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,258 | 89.28 | −3.58 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,090 | | |

### 1949 election

1949 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Sydney Jones | 7,965 | 53.28 | |
| | Labour | Ted Cullen | 6,983 | 46.72 | −5.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 982 | 6.56 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,948 | 92.86 | −1.75 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,097 | | |

### 1946 election

1946 general election: Hastings :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ted Cullen | 7,292 | 51.72 |
| | National | Eric Pryor | 6,809 | 48.28 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 483 | 3.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,101 | 94.61 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,904 | |