Otago Central

Former electorate in Otago, New Zealand

For the area of Otago, see Central Otago.

Otago Central or Central Otago was a parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1911 to 1919 as Otago Central; from 1928 to 1957 as Central Otago; and from 1957 to 1978 as Otago Central. It was replaced by the Otago electorate. The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament.

## Population centres

[edit]

In the 1911 electoral redistribution, the North Island gained a further seat from the South Island due to faster population growth. In addition, there were substantial population movements within each island, and significant changes resulted from this. Only four electorates were unaltered, five electorates were abolished, one former electorate was re-established, and four electorates, including Otago Central, were created for the first time.[1] The Otago Central electorate mostly covered areas that previously belonged to the Tuapeka and Taieri electorates, which were both abolished through the 1911 electoral redistribution.[2] Settlements that fell within the original Otago Central electorate included Roxburgh, Alexandra, and Ranfurly.[3]

In the 1918 electoral redistribution, the Otago Central electorate was abolished. Most of its area went to an enlarged Wakatipu electorate, but smaller areas went to the Clutha, Bruce, and Waitaki electorates.[4]

In the 1927 electoral redistribution, the North Island gained a further electorate from the South Island due to faster population growth. Five electorates were abolished, two former electorates, including Central Otago, were re-established, and three electorates were created for the first time.[5]

## History

[edit]

The first representative of the Otago Central electorate was Robert Scott, who was the incumbent from the Tuapeka electorate.[6]

### Members of Parliament

[edit]

The Otago Central electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament:[7]

Key

Reform United National Labour

Election  | Winner

|

1911 election |  | Robert Scott
1914 election
Abolished 1919, re-established as Central Otago 1928
1928 election |  | William Bodkin
1931 election
1935 election |
1938 election
1943 election
1946 election
1949 election
1951 election
1954 election |  | Jack George
Renamed as Otago Central 1957
1957 election |  | Jack George
1960 election
1963 election
1966 election
1969 election |  | Murray Rose
1972 election |  | Ian Quigley
1975 election |  | Warren Cooper
(Electorate abolished in 1978; see Otago)

## Election results

[edit]

### 1975 election

[edit]

1975 general election: Otago Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Warren Cooper | 10,354  | 52.32  |
| Labour | Ian Quigley | 7,983  | 40.34  | −10.74
| Social Credit | R S Moodie  | 910  | 4.59  |
| Values | John Perkins  | 542  | 2.73  |
Majority | 2,371  | 11.98  |
Turnout | 19,789  | 87.67  | −4.73
Registered electors | 22,572  |  |

### 1972 election

[edit]

1972 general election: Otago Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Ian Quigley | 8,544  | 51.08  |
| National | Murray Rose | 7,061  | 42.22  | −0.61
| Social Credit | J Woodhall  | 721  | 4.31  |
| Values | Arthur Klap  | 258  | 1.54  |
| New Democratic | Patrick McMullan  | 140  | 0.83  | −14.67
Majority | 1,483  | 8.86  |
Turnout | 16,724  | 92.40  | +3.76
Registered electors | 18,099  |  |

### 1969 election

[edit]

1969 general election: Otago Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Murray Rose | 6,345  | 42.83  |
| Labour | Brian Griffiths  | 5,259  | 35.50  | +2.45
| Social Credit | Patrick McMullan  | 2,297  | 15.50  |
| Country Party | John Perkins  | 793  | 5.35  |
| Independent Labour | Jamie Wedderspoon  | 118  | 0.79  |
Majority | 1,086  | 7.33  |
Turnout | 14,812  | 88.64  | +1.25
Registered electors | 16,709  |  |

### 1966 election

[edit]

1966 general election: Otago Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Jack George | 7,060  | 49.07  | −10.41
| Labour | Brian Griffiths  | 4,755  | 33.05  |
| Social Credit | George Irvin Jones  | 2,571  | 17.87  |
Majority | 2,305  | 16.02  | −2.95
Turnout | 14,386  | 87.39  | +0.03
Registered electors | 16,460  |  |

### 1963 election

[edit]

1963 general election: Otago Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Jack George | 8,388  | 59.48  | −3.25
| Labour | Stan Rodger | 5,713  | 40.51  |
Majority | 2,675  | 18.97  | −18.26
Turnout | 14,101  | 87.36  | −3.51
Registered electors | 16,141  |  |

### 1960 election

[edit]

1960 general election: Otago Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Jack George | 7,320  | 62.73  | +5.79
| Labour | Brian MacDonell | 2,976  | 25.50  |
| Social Credit | George Irvin Jones  | 1,372  | 11.75  |
Majority | 4,344  | 37.23  | +15.17
Turnout | 11,668  | 90.87  | −2.81
Registered electors | 12,840  |  |

### 1957 election

[edit]

1957 general election: Otago Central  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Jack George | 7,196  | 56.94  | +8.91
| Labour | J H Rapson  | 4,408  | 34.88  |
| Social Credit | J D F Sloan  | 1,033  | 8.17  |
Majority | 2,788  | 22.06  | +7.62
Turnout | 12,637  | 93.68  | +4.33
Registered electors | 13,489  |  |

### 1954 election

[edit]

1954 general election: Central Otago  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Jack George | 6,895  | 48.03  |
| Labour | Peter John Scott  | 4,821  | 33.58  |
| Social Credit | A G Newland  | 2,638  | 18.37  |
Majority | 2,074  | 14.44  |
Turnout | 14,354  | 89.35  | +1.74
Registered electors | 16,064  |  |

### 1951 election

[edit]

1951 general election: Central Otago  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | William Bodkin | 8,429  | 63.67  | −1.34
| Labour | Thomas Augustus Rodgers  | 4,809  | 36.33  | +1.34
Majority | 3,620  | 27.34  | −2.68
Turnout | 13,238  | 87.61  | −3.37
Registered electors | 15,109  |  |

### 1949 election

[edit]

1949 general election: Central Otago  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | William Bodkin | 8,457  | 65.01  | +3.69
| Labour | Thomas Augustus Rodgers  | 4,551  | 34.99  |
Majority | 3,906  | 30.02  | +7.37
Turnout | 13,008  | 90.98  | −1.42
Registered electors | 14,297  |  |

### 1946 election

[edit]

1949 general election: Central Otago  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | William Bodkin | 7,874  | 61.32  |
| Labour | Claude Charles Capell  | 4,965  | 38.68  |
Majority | 2,909  | 22.65  |
Turnout | 12,839  | 92.40  |
Registered electors | 13,894  |  |

### 1943 election

[edit]

There were three candidates in 1943, with the election won by William Bodkin over James McIndoe Mackay.[8]

### 1931 election

[edit]

1931 general election: Central Otago[9] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| United | William Bodkin | 5,156  | 66.14  |
| Independent | Charles Todd | 2,640  | 33.86  |
Informal votes  | 147  | 1.85  |
Majority | 2,516  | 32.27  |
Turnout | 7,943  | 82.10  |
Registered electors | 9,675  |  |

### 1928 election

[edit]

1928 general election: Central Otago[10][11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| United | William Bodkin | 4,684  | 53.75  |
| Reform | James Ritchie  | 4,031  | 46.25  |
Informal votes  | 58  | 0.66  |
Majority | 653  | 7.49  |
Turnout | 8,773  | 89.34  |
Registered electors | 9,820  |  |

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 71–76.
2. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 73–77.
3. ^ McRobie 1989, p. 77.
4. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 77–81.
5. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 83–88.
6. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 233.
7. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 260, 269.
8. ^ "Declaration of Result of Poll for the Electoral District of Central Otago". Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette. 13 October 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
9. ^ The General Election, 1931. Government Printer. 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
10. ^ Skinner, W. A. G. (1929). The General Election, 1928. Government Printer. p. 2. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
11. ^ "Notice of nominations received and polling places appointed". Dunstan Times. No. 3395\. 5 November 1928. p. 6. Retrieved 17 February 2020.

## References

[edit]

* McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
* Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.

* v
* t
* e

Historical electorates of New Zealand  « current electorates »

General
electorates|

* Akaroa
* Albany
* Aoraki
* Arch Hill
* Ashburton
* Ashley
* Auckland
* Auckland East
* Auckland North
* Auckland Suburbs
* Auckland West
* Avon
* Awarua
* Bay of Islands
* Birkenhead
* Brooklyn
* Bruce
* Buller
* Caversham
* Chalmers
* Cheviot
* Christchurch
* Christchurch Country
* Christchurch North
* Christchurch South
* Christchurch West
* City of Auckland
* City of Christchurch
* City of Dunedin
* City of Nelson
* City of Wellington
* Clevedon
* Clive
* Clutha
* Clutha-Southland
* Coleridge
* Collingwood
* County of Hawke
* Courtenay
* Dunedin Central
* Dunedin Country
* Dunedin East
* Dunedin North
* Dunedin South
* Dunedin and Suburbs North
* Dunedin and Suburbs South
* Dunedin Suburbs
* Dunedin West
* Dunstan
* East Cape
* Eastern Bay of Plenty
* Eastern Hutt
* Eden
* Egmont
* Ellesmere
* Fendalton
* Far North
* Foxton
* Franklin
* Franklin North
* Franklin South
* Geraldine
* Gisborne
* Glenfield
* Gladstone
* Grey
* Grey and Bell
* Grey Lynn
* Greymouth
* Grey Valley
* Halswell
* Hamilton
* Hampden
* Hastings
* Hauraki
* Hawera
* Hawkes Bay
* Heathcote
* Helensville
* Henderson
* Heretaunga
* Hobson
* Hokitika
* Hokonui
* Horowhenua
* Howick
* Hunua
* Hurunui
* Hutt
* Inangahua
* Island Bay
* Kaiapoi
* Kaimai
* Kaipara
* Kapiti
* Karapiro
* Karori
* King Country
* Kumara
* Lincoln
* Linwood
* Lyttelton
* Mahia
* Manawatu
* Manuherikia
* Manukau
* Manukau East
* Maramarua
* Marlborough
* Marsden
* Masterton
* Matakana
* Matamata
* Mataura
* Mid-Canterbury
* Miramar
* Moeraki
* Mongonui
* Mongonui and Bay of Islands
* Mornington
* Motueka
* Motueka and Massacre Bay
* Mount Herbert
* Mount Ida
* Mount Victoria
* Newton
* Newtown
* Northern Division
* Oamaru
* Ohariu-Belmont
* Ohinemuri
* Omata
* Onehunga
* Onslow
* Oroua
* Otago
* Otago Central
* Otahuhu
* Otara
* Owairaka
* Pahiatua
* Palmerston
* Panmure
* Papanui
* Papatoetoe
* Pareora
* Parnell
* Patea
* Pencarrow
* Peninsula
* Pensioner Settlements
* Petone
* Piako
* Picton
* Ponsonby
* Porirua
* Port Chalmers
* Port Hills
* Raglan
* Rakaia
* Rangiora
* Rangiriri
* Remuera
* Riccarton
* Riverton
* Rodney
* Roskill
* Roslyn
* Ruahine
* St Albans
* St Kilda
* South Canterbury
* Southern Division
* Stanmore
* Stratford
* Suburbs of Auckland
* Suburbs of Nelson
* Sydenham
* Taranaki
* Tarawera
* Tasman
* Taumarunui
* Te Aro
* Te Aroha
* Temuka
* Thames
* Thorndon
* Timaru
* Titirangi
* Tongariro
* Totara
* Tuapeka
* Waiapu
* Waihemo
* Waikaia
* Waikaremoana
* Waikouaiti
* Waimarino
* Waimate
* Waimea
* Waimea-Picton
* Waimea-Sounds
* Waipa
* Waipareira
* Waipawa
* Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay
* Wairarapa North
* Wairarapa South
* Wairau
* Waitemata
* Waitakere
* Waitomo
* Waitotara
* Wakanui
* Wakatipu
* Wallace
* Wanganui and Rangitikei
* Wellington
* Wellington Country
* Wellington East
* Wellington-Karori
* Wellington North
* Wellington South
* Wellington South and Suburbs
* Wellington Suburbs
* Wellington Suburbs and Country
* Wellington West
* West Auckland
* West Coast
* Western Hutt
* Westland
* Westland North
* Westland South
* Woodville
* Yaldhurst

Māori
electorates|

* Eastern Maori
* Hauraki Māori
* Northern Maori
* Southern Maori
* Tainui
* Te Puku O Te Whenua
* Te Tai Rawhiti
* Western Maori

Goldminers'
electorates|

* Gold Fields
* Gold Field Towns
* Westland Boroughs

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template