# Waitemata (New Zealand electorate)

Waitemata was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1871 to 1946, and then from 1954 to 1978. It was represented by 18 members of parliament.

## Population centres

The Waitemata electorate was created in the 1870 electoral redistribution based on 1867 New Zealand census data and was used in its initial form for the 1871 election. It was located north of the various urban Auckland electorates and south of the Rodney electorate. The following settlements were included in its initial area: Cornwallis, Huia, Parau, Laingholm, Titirangi, Waiatarua, Oratia, Piha, Henderson Valley, Swanson, Rānui, Waitākere township, Taupaki, Kumeū, Hobsonville, Whenuapai, Takapuna, and Helensville.
The First Labour Government was defeated in the 1949 election and the incoming National Government changed the Electoral Act, with the electoral quota once again based on total population as opposed to qualified electors, and the tolerance was increased to 7.5% of the electoral quota. There was no adjustments in the number of electorates between the South and North Islands, but the law changes resulted in boundary adjustments to almost every electorate through the 1952 electoral redistribution; only five electorates were unaltered. Five electorates were reconstituted (including Waitemata) and one was newly created, and a corresponding six electorates were abolished; all of these in the North Island. These changes took effect with the 1954 election.

## History

The electorate existed from 1871 to 1946, and from 1954 to 1978.
Early members were Thomas Henderson 1871–1874 (resigned), Gustav von der Heyde 1874–1875 (unseated on petition), John Sangster Macfarlane 1876–1879 (defeated), Reader Wood 1879–1881 (retired), William John Hurst 1881–1886 (died), Richard Monk 1886–1890 (defeated), and Jackson Palmer 1890–1893 (defeated).
The election of Richard Monk, who stood again in 1893, was declared invalid. From 1894 to 1896 Waitemata was held by future Prime Minister William Massey, until he transferred to Franklin. Richard Monk held the electorate for the period 1896–1902. The seat was then held by Ewen Alison from 1902 to 1908, Leonard Phillips from 1908 to 1911, and Alexander Harris from 1911 to 1935.
In 1946 Henry Thorne Morton, who had held the seat from 1943, was defeated for North Shore.

### Members of Parliament

Waitemata was represented by 18 Members of Parliament.
Key
Independent  Independent Liberal  Conservative  Reform  Labour  National
| Election | Winner |
| 1871 election | Thomas Henderson |
| 1st 1874 by-election | Gustav von der Heyde |
| 2nd 1874 by-election | Gustav von der Heyde |
| 1876 election | John Macfarlane |
| 1879 election | Reader Wood |
| 1881 election | William Hurst |
| 1884 election | William Hurst |
| 1886 by-election | Richard Monk |
| 1887 election | Richard Monk |
| 1890 election | Jackson Palmer |
| 1893 election | Richard Monk |
| 1894 by-election | William Massey |
| 1896 election | Richard Monk |
| 1899 election | Richard Monk |
| 1902 election | Ewen Alison |
| 1905 election | Ewen Alison |
| 1908 election | Leonard Phillips |
| 1911 election | Alexander Harris |
| 1914 election | Alexander Harris |
| 1919 election | Alexander Harris |
| 1922 election | Alexander Harris |
| 1925 election | Alexander Harris |
| 1928 election | Alexander Harris |
| 1931 election | Alexander Harris |
| 1935 election | Jack Lyon |
| 1938 election | Jack Lyon |
| 1941 by-election | Mary Dreaver |
| 1943 election | Henry Morton |
| (electorate abolished 1946–1954, see North Shore) |||
| 1954 election | Norman King |
| 1957 election | Norman King |
| 1960 election | Norman King |
| 1963 election | Norman King |
| 1966 election | Norman King |
| 1969 election | Frank Gill |
| 1972 election | Michael Bassett |
| 1975 election | Dail Jones |
| (electorate abolished 1978, see Helensville) |||

## Election results
### 1975 election

1975 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Dail Jones | 8,965 | 46.94 | |
| | Labour | Michael Bassett | 7,580 | 36.69 | −17.21 |
| | Social Credit | Gordon McCormick | 1,460 | 7.64 | −0.38 |
| | Values | Steve Covacich | 1,046 | 5.47 | |
| | Independent | Gordon Bree | 44 | 0.23 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,385 | 7.25 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,095 | 77.75 | −10.91 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,557 | | |

### 1972 election

1972 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Bassett | 8,083 | 53.90 | +10.91 |
| | National | Ray La Varis | 5,539 | 36.93 | |
| | Social Credit | Gordon McCormick | 1,203 | 8.02 | |
| | New Democratic | John Robert Neil | 106 | 0.70 | |
| | Liberal Reform | Robert John Hannaford | 65 | 0.43 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,544 | 16.96 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,996 | 88.66 | −1.72 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,913 | | |

### 1969 election

1969 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Frank Gill | 8,804 | 48.82 | |
| | Labour | Michael Bassett | 7,752 | 42.99 | |
| | Social Credit | Alex Davidson | 1,475 | 8.18 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,052 | 5.83 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,031 | 90.38 | +4.08 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,950 | | |

### 1966 election

1966 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Norman King | 11,624 | 53.09 | −2.03 |
| | National | Terry Power | 7,792 | 35.59 | |
| | Social Credit | Joseph F. Richards | 2,476 | 11.31 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,832 | 17.50 | −0.89 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,892 | 86.30 | −2.24 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 25,365 | | |

### 1963 election

1963 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Norman King | 9,686 | 55.12 | +5.30 |
| | National | Butch Pugh | 6,767 | 38.51 | |
| | Social Credit | Byrt Jordan | 954 | 5.42 | −0.91 |
| | Communist | Basil James Holmes | 164 | 0.93 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,919 | 16.61 | −9.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,571 | 88.54 | −2.60 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,845 | | |

### 1960 election

1960 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Norman King | 9,241 | 49.82 | −3.70 |
| | National | Jolyon Firth | 7,992 | 43.09 | |
| | Social Credit | Byrt Jordan | 1,174 | 6.33 | +0.01 |
| | Communist | Hugh John McLeod | 139 | 0.74 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,249 | 6.73 | −6.64 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,546 | 91.14 | −3.69 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,348 | | |

### 1957 election

1957 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Norman King | 8,771 | 53.52 | +6.99 |
| | National | Robert Muldoon | 6,580 | 40.15 | |
| | Social Credit | Byrt Jordan | 1,036 | 6.32 | −3.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,191 | 13.37 | +10.89 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,387 | 94.83 | +3.20 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,280 | | |

### 1954 election

1954 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Norman King | 7,234 | 46.53 |
| | National | Hubert Morrison | 6,847 | 44.04 |
| | Social Credit | Byrt Jordan | 1,463 | 9.41 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 387 | 2.48 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,544 | 91.63 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,963 | |

### 1943 election

1943 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Henry Morton | 6,451 | 42.22 | |
| | Labour | Mary Dreaver | 6,130 | 40.12 | −4.76 |
| | Democratic Labour | Karl Benjamin Ansley | 976 | 6.38 | |
| | Independent | William C. Hewitt | 204 | 1.33 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 127 | 0.83 | +0.10 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 321 | 2.10 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,277 | 94.62 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,144 | | |

### 1941 by-election

1941 Waitemata by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mary Dreaver | 4,396 | 44.88 | |
| | Independent National | William Brockway Darlow | 3,884 | 39.65 | |
| | Democratic Labour | Norman Douglas | 940 | 9.59 | |
| | Independent | Peter Robertson Gardner | 414 | 4.22 | |
| | Independent | Henry Thomas Head | 88 | 0.89 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 72 | 0.73 | −0.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 512 | 5.22 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,794 | | |

### 1938 election

1938 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack Lyon | 7,806 | 57.95 | +6.43 |
| | National | John Ernest Close | 5,545 | 41.16 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 118 | 0.87 | −0.84 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,261 | 16.78 | −4.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,469 | 94.19 | +2.31 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,299 | | |

### 1935 election

1935 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack Lyon | 6,578 | 51.52 | |
| | Independent | Alexander Harris | 3,894 | 30.50 | −22.38 |
| | Democrat | Alan Walter Donald | 2,045 | 16.02 | |
| | United | John Guiniven | 252 | 1.97 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,684 | 21.02 | −1.46 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 222 | 1.71 | +1.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,991 | 91.88 | +10.91 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,139 | | |

### 1931 election

1931 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alexander Harris | 5,593 | 52.88 | +12.28 |
| | Labour | Arthur Osborne | 3,215 | 30.40 | +8.85 |
| | United | William Brockway Darlow | 1,769 | 16.72 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,378 | 22.48 | +19.75 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 36 | 0.34 | −0.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,613 | 80.97 | −4.87 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,107 | | |

### 1928 election

1928 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alexander Harris | 4,683 | 40.59 | −17.24 |
| | United | Reginald Henry Greville | 4,368 | 37.86 | |
| | Labour | Arthur Osborne | 2,485 | 21.54 | −7.16 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 315 | 2.73 | −26.40 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 72 | 0.62 | +0.11 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,608 | 85.84 | −4.84 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,523 | | |

### 1925 election

1925 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform | Alexander Harris | 7,101 | 57.84 | +11.74 |
| | Labour | Arthur Osborne | 3,524 | 28.70 | |
| | Liberal | Thomas Lamont | 1,653 | 13.46 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,577 | 29.13 | +16.36 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 63 | 0.51 | −0.30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,341 | 90.68 | +1.00 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,610 | | |

### 1922 election

1922 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform | Alexander Harris | 4,586 | 46.10 | −12.34 |
| | Liberal | Frank Henry Burbush | 3,315 | 33.32 | |
| | Labour | Robert Frederick Way | 2,047 | 20.58 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,271 | 12.78 | −4.11 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 81 | 0.81 | −0.59 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,029 | 89.67 | +6.21 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,184 | | |

### 1919 election

1919 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform | Alexander Harris | 4,911 | 58.44 | +2.65 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Edwin Greenslade | 3,492 | 41.56 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,419 | 16.89 | +5.31 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 119 | 1.40 | +0.32 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,522 | 83.46 | −1.22 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,211 | | |

### 1914 election

1914 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform | Alexander Harris | 4,881 | 55.79 | +2.98 |
| | Liberal | Henry Cromwell Tewsley | 3,868 | 44.21 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,013 | 11.58 | +5.96 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 95 | 1.07 | +0.91 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,844 | 84.68 | +2.37 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,444 | | |

### 1911 election

1911 general election: Waitemata, first ballot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Joseph Napier | 3,064 | 42.40 | +0.01 |
| | Reform | Alexander Harris | 2,787 | 38.57 | |
| | Independent | Ewen Alison | 1,375 | 19.03 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 277 | 3.83 | −11.34 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 142 | 1.93 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,368 | 83.64 | +6.66 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,809 | | |
1911 general election: Waitemata, second ballot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform | Alexander Harris | 3,823 | 52.81 | +14.24 |
| | Liberal | William Joseph Napier | 3,416 | 47.19 | 4.79 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 407 | 5.62 | +1.79 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 12 | 0.17 | −1.76 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,251 | 82.31 | −1.33 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,809 | | |

### 1908 election

1908 general election: Waitemata, first ballot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Leonard Phillips | 2,946 | 49.50 | |
| | Liberal | William Joseph Napier | 2,059 | 34.59 | |
| | Liberal | Henry Wakeford Wilding | 673 | 11.31 | |
| | Independent | Theophilus Wake | 274 | 4.60 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 887 | 14.90 | −3.47 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,952 | 77.02 | −8.03 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,728 | | |
1908 general election: Waitemata, second ballot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Leonard Phillips | 3,426 | 57.56 | +8.06 |
| | Liberal | William Joseph Napier | 2,523 | 42.39 | +7.80 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 903 | 15.17 | +0.27 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,949 | 76.98 | −0.04 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,728 | | |

### 1905 election

1905 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ewen Alison | 3,128 | 59.19 | +0.49 |
| | Liberal | Cecil Clinkard | 2,157 | 40.81 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 971 | 18.37 | +0.98 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 84 | 1.56 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,369 | 85.05 | +14.02 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,313 | | |

### 1902 election

1902 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ewen Alison | 2,409 | 58.70 | |
| | Liberal | Alexander John Hatfield | 1,695 | 41.30 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 714 | 17.40 | +3.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,104 | 71.03 | +2.53 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,778 | | |

### 1899 election

1899 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Richard Monk | 1,713 | 51.29 |
| | Liberal | Edwin Ford | 1,263 | 37.81 |
| | Liberal | Charles Newman | 364 | 10.90 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 450 | 13.47 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,340 | 68.50 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,876 | |

### 1894 by-election

1894 Waitemata by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | William Massey | 1,619 | 52.82 |
| | Independent Liberal | Jackson Palmer | 1,446 | 47.17 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 | 5.64 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,065 | |

### 1890 election

1890 general election: Waitemata :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent Liberal | Jackson Palmer | 752 | 53.22 |
| | Conservative | Richard Monk | 661 | 46.77 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 91 | 6.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,413 | 39.92 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,539 | |

### 1886 Waitemata by-election

1886 Waitemata by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Richard Monk | 736 | 69.83 |
| | Independent | Harry Farnall | 312 | 29.60 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 424 | 40.23 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1054 | |

### September 1874 Waitemata by-election

September 1874 Waitemata by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Gustav von der Heyde | 271 | 56.46 |
| | Independent | John Sangster Macfarlane | 209 | 43.53 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62 | 12.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 480 | |

### July 1874 Waitemata by-election

July 1874 Waitemata by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Gustav von der Heyde | 287 | 54.77 |
| | Independent | John Sangster Macfarlane | 237 | 45.23 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 50 | 9.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 524 | |