# Eastern Maori

Eastern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Northern Maori, Western Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updated, and Eastern Maori was replaced with the Te Tai Rawhiti and Te Puku O Te Whenua electorates.

## Population centres

The electorate included the population centres of Kawerau, Opotiki, Rotorua and Whakatane.

## Tribal areas

The electorate included the tribal areas of Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāi Tai, Te Whakatōhea and Ngāti Porou.

## History

Eastern Maori included Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty, and the Poverty Bay area down to Gisborne. Originally the electorate extended down the East Coast and included the Wairarapa, but in 1954 the boundaries of the Southern Maori electorate were extended to include much of the East Coast of the North Island up to Napier and Wairoa in Hawke's Bay.
The first Member of Parliament for Eastern Maori was Tareha Te Moananui, elected in 1868; he was the first Māori MP to speak in Parliament, and he retired in 1870.
James Carroll represented the electorate from 1887 to 1893, but in 1893 he changed to the Waiapu electorate and was replaced by Wi Pere who Carroll had defeated in 1887.
In the 1949 election, the incumbent, Tiaki Omana of the Labour Party, was unsuccessfully challenged by National's Turi Carroll.
In the 1963 election, Puti Tipene Watene was elected. He was a Mormon and was the first non-Ratana to win a Maori seat since 1938.
With MMP Eastern Maori was replaced by the Te Tai Rawhiti electorate in 1996. Peter Tapsell, who had represented Eastern Maori since 1981 was defeated when he stood in the new electorate.

### Members of Parliament

The Eastern Maori electorate was represented by ten Members of Parliament:
Key
Independent  Liberal  United  National  Labour
| Election | Winner |
| 1868 Māori election | Tareha Te Moananui |
| 1871 election | Karaitiana Takamoana |
| 1876 election | Karaitiana Takamoana |
| 1879 by-election | Henare Tomoana |
| 1879 election | Henare Tomoana |
| 1881 election | Henare Tomoana |
| 1884 election | Wi Pere |
| 1887 election | James Carroll |
| 1890 election | James Carroll |
| 1893 election | Wi Pere (2nd period) |
| 1896 election | Wi Pere (2nd period) |
| 1899 election | Wi Pere (2nd period) |
| 1902 election | Wi Pere (2nd period) |
| 1905 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1908 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1911 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1914 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1919 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1922 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1925 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1928 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1931 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1935 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1938 election | Āpirana Ngata |
| 1943 election | Tiaki Omana |
| 1946 election | Tiaki Omana |
| 1949 election | Tiaki Omana |
| 1951 election | Tiaki Omana |
| 1954 election | Tiaki Omana |
| 1957 election | Tiaki Omana |
| 1960 election | Tiaki Omana |
| 1963 election | Puti Tipene Watene |
| 1966 election | Puti Tipene Watene |
| 1967 by-election | Paraone Reweti |
| 1969 election | Paraone Reweti |
| 1972 election | Paraone Reweti |
| 1975 election | Paraone Reweti |
| 1978 election | Paraone Reweti |
| 1981 election | Peter Tapsell |
| 1984 election | Peter Tapsell |
| 1987 election | Peter Tapsell |
| 1990 election | Peter Tapsell |
| 1993 election | Peter Tapsell |

## Election results

Note that the affiliation of many early candidates is not known.

### 1993 election

1993 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Tapsell | 9,311 | 63.52 | −7.40 |
| | Alliance | Alamein Kopu | 2,645 | 18.04 | |
| | Mana Māori | Tame Iti | 1,388 | 9.46 | |
| | National | Jim Gray | 664 | 4.52 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Mere Wirepa | 404 | 2.75 | |
| | Natural Law | Molly Para | 246 | 1.67 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,666 | 45.47 | −7.95 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,658 | 61.64 | +0.37 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,779 | | |

### 1990 election

1990 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Tapsell | 9,085 | 70.92 | −3.19 |
| | Mana Motuhake | Wi Kuki Kaa | 2,241 | 17.49 | |
| | National | Jim Ngatai Connelly | 1,484 | 11.58 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,844 | 53.42 | −7.08 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,810 | 61.27 | −9.24 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,906 | | |

### 1987 election

1987 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Tapsell | 10,653 | 74.11 | −10.07 |
| | Mana Motuhake | Amster Reedy | 1,957 | 13.61 | |
| | National | Jim Gray | 1,321 | 9.19 | |
| | Democrats | G M Ngakaru | 442 | 3.07 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,696 | 60.50 | −16.45 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,373 | 70.51 | −7.28 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,384 | | |

### 1984 election

1984 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Tapsell | 12,285 | 84.18 | +20.39 |
| | National | Barry Kiwara | 1,055 | 7.22 | |
| | Mana Motuhake | Bert McLean | 575 | 3.94 | |
| | NZ Party | Rawinia Heremaia | 400 | 2.74 | |
| | Social Credit | T K Te Aweawe | 277 | 1.89 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,230 | 76.95 | −0.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,592 | 77.79 | +0.49 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,757 | | |

### 1981 election

1981 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Tapsell | 8,222 | 63.79 | |
| | Mana Motuhake | Albert Tahana | 1,990 | 15.43 | |
| | National | Charles Little | 1,505 | 11.67 | |
| | Social Credit | R T Tibble | 1,172 | 9.09 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,232 | 48.35 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,889 | 77.30 | +26.02 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,673 | | |

### 1978 election

1978 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paraone Reweti | 9,085 | 74.79 | +0.81 |
| | National | Monty Searancke | 1,685 | 13.87 | −5.56 |
| | Social Credit | T Te Hira | 1,195 | 9.83 | |
| | Values | H Te M Kaa | 182 | 1.49 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,400 | 60.92 | +6.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,147 | 51.28 | −18.53 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,684 | | |

### 1975 election

1975 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paraone Reweti | 8,491 | 73.98 | +1.33 |
| | National | Monty Searancke | 2,230 | 19.43 | |
| | Social Credit | Manu Te Pere | 548 | 4.77 | |
| | Values | Danny Stevens | 208 | 1.81 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,261 | 54.55 | +3.63 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,477 | 69.81 | −16.19 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,439 | | |

### 1972 election

1972 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paraone Reweti | 8,831 | 72.65 | +10.64 |
| | National | Koro Dewes | 2,641 | 21.72 | |
| | Social Credit | R Rangi | 505 | 4.15 | |
| | New Democratic | T T Clarke | 177 | 1.45 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,190 | 50.92 | +21.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,154 | 86.00 | +2.84 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,131 | | |

### 1969 election

1969 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paraone Reweti | 7,247 | 62.01 | +12.52 |
| | National | Henare Ngata | 3,760 | 32.17 | |
| | Social Credit | Maanu Paul | 679 | 5.81 | −7.72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,487 | 29.83 | +7.15 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,686 | 83.16 | +22.46 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,051 | | |

### 1967 by-election

1967 Eastern Maori by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paraone Reweti | 4,460 | 49.49 | |
| | National | Arnold Reedy | 2,416 | 26.81 | −3.93 |
| | Social Credit | Maanu Paul | 1,219 | 13.53 | +3.11 |
| | Independent Maori | Don Bennett | 671 | 7.45 | |
| | Independent | Te Okanga Huata | 246 | 2.73 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,044 | 22.68 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,012 | 60.70 | −15.58 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,849 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### 1966 election

1966 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Puti Tipene Watene | 6,537 | 58.83 | +3.83 |
| | National | Arnold Reedy | 3,416 | 30.74 | −3.43 |
| | Social Credit | Maanu Paul | 1,158 | 10.42 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,121 | 28.08 | +7.25 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,111 | 76.28 | −7.03 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,566 | | |

### 1963 election

1963 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Puti Tipene Watene | 6,775 | 55.00 | |
| | National | Arnold Reedy | 4,209 | 34.17 | +9.49 |
| | Social Credit | R W Smith | 741 | 6.01 | |
| | Independent | B A Raukopa | 230 | 1.86 | |
| | Independent | P H Baker | 157 | 1.27 | |
| | Liberal | R Rangi | 112 | 0.90 | |
| | Ind. Social Credit | M W Sadler | 92 | 0.74 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,566 | 20.83 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,316 | 83.31 | +3.30 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,783 | | |

### 1960 election

1960 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tiaki Omana | 5,809 | 51.49 | −8.43 |
| | Social Credit | Arnold Reedy | 2,784 | 24.68 | +6.25 |
| | National | Henry Reiwhati Vercoe | 2,496 | 22.12 | |
| | Independent | Mita Carter | 191 | 1.69 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,025 | 26.81 | −11.47 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,280 | 80.01 | −6.17 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,098 | | |

### 1957 election

1957 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tiaki Omana | 6,569 | 59.92 | −0.81 |
| | National | Wiremu Hoete Maxwell | 2,372 | 21.63 | |
| | Social Credit | Arnold Reedy | 2,021 | 18.43 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,197 | 38.28 | +11.50 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,962 | 86.18 | +1.59 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,719 | | |

### 1954 election

1954 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tiaki Omana | 7,015 | 60.73 | −2.41 |
| | National | Claude Anaru | 3,921 | 33.94 | |
| | Social Credit | Wilson Paku | 614 | 5.31 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,094 | 26.78 | +0.51 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,550 | 84.59 | −13.30 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,654 | | |

### 1951 election

1951 General election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tiaki Omana | 8,905 | 63.14 | +1.48 |
| | National | Turi Carroll | 5,199 | 36.86 | −1.48 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,706 | 26.27 | +2.94 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,104 | 97.89 | −9.79 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,407 | | |

### 1949 election

1949 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tiaki Omana | 8,487 | 61.66 | +7.68 |
| | National | Turi Carroll | 5,276 | 38.34 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,211 | 23.33 | +12.15 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,763 | 107.68 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,781 | | |
The number of electors on Maori rolls was often inaccurate hence the impossible turnout figures.

### 1946 election

1946 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Tiaki Omana | 7,321 | 53.98 |
| | National | Āpirana Ngata | 5,804 | 42.79 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 439 | 3.23 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,517 | 11.18 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,564 | |

### 1931 election

1931 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United | Āpirana Ngata | 5,105 | 71.91 | +1.70 |
| | Ratana | Pita Moko | 1,994 | 28.09 | +1.90 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,111 | 43.82 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,099 | | |

### 1928 election

1928 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | United | Āpirana Ngata | 4,950 | 70.21 |
| | Ratana | Pita Moko | 1,846 | 26.18 |
| | Labour | Robert Panapa Tutaki | 254 | 3.60 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,104 | 44.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,050 | |

### 1899 election

1899 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wi Pere | 2,294 | 40.52 | −20.70 |
| | | Mohi Te Ātahīkoia | 1,387 | 24.50 | |
| | | Hurinui Apanui | 1,316 | 23.25 | |
| | | Kereru Numia | 331 | 5.85 | |
| | | Tare Mete | 207 | 3.66 | −9.86 |
| | | Tamati Haweti | 126 | 2.23 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 907 | 16.02 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,661 | | |

### 1896 election

1896 general election: Eastern Maori :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Wi Pere | 2,549 | 61.22 |
| | | Tamati Tautuhi | 805 | 19.33 |
| | | Tare Mete | 563 | 13.52 |
| | | Maika Taruhe | 182 | 4.37 |
| | | Eriata Nopera | 65 | 1.56 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,744 | 41.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,164 | |

### 1879 by-election

1879 Eastern Maori by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Henare Tomoana | 652 | 37.84 |
| | Independent | Henare Matua | 583 | 33.84 |
| | Independent | Hans Tapsell | 429 | 24.90 |
| | Independent | Henare Te Pukuatua | 59 | 3.42 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 4.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1723 | |