Palmerston North (New Zealand electorate)

Electoral district in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

Palmerston North

Single-member general constituency for the New Zealand House of Representatives
Formation| 1963
Region| Manawatū-Whanganui
Character| Urban and suburban
Term| 3 years
Member for Palmerston North

Tangi Utikere
since 17 October 2020
Party| Labour
List MPs| Teanau Tuiono (Green)
Previous MP| Iain Lees-Galloway (Labour)
Party vote distribution

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Palmerston North is a parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate was first formed for the 1890 election and was called Palmerston until 1938. The current MP for Palmerston North is Tangi Utikere of the Labour Party. He has held this position since the 2020 election.

## Profile

[edit]

In December 1887, the House of Representatives voted to reduce its membership from general electorates from 91 to 70. The 1890 electoral redistribution used the same 1886 census data used for the 1887 electoral redistribution. In addition, three-member electorates were introduced in the four main centres. This resulted in a major restructuring of electorates, and Palmerston was one of four electorates to be first created for the 1890 election.[1]

Palmerston North reached its current approximate size at the expense of the old Manawatu electorate in the lead up to the introduction of mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting in 1996. The boundaries of the Palmerston North electorate were last adjusted in the 2007 redistribution, when the electorate became fully urban and covered all of the urbanised part of Palmerston North City, with the towns in its orbit such as Ashhurst and Linton becoming part of the neighbouring electorate of Rangitīkei. To counter the population loss on the Manawatu River's left bank, the section of the city on the right bank, including the suburb of Milson, was moved in at the same time.[2] No boundary adjustments were undertaken in the subsequent 2013/14 redistribution.[3]

At the 2013 census, the Palmerston North electorate reported the highest share of those working in the retail trade industry (11.4%); those whose occupation was a community and personal service worker (10.9%); and those whose households used mains (natural) gas as a heating fuel. Among general electorates, Palmerston North had the second-highest share of those working in the education and training sector (11.8%), and people affiliated with the Brethren religious denomination (1.2%).[4]

## History

[edit]

The electorate has been loyal to the Labour Party, not having elected a National MP since 1975, and having not re-elected a National MP since 1966.

The first representative of the Palmerston electorate was James Wilson.[5] Wilson previously represented the Foxton electorate until its abolition in 1890.[6] In the 1890 election, Wilson beat Frederick Pirani by 61 votes.[7] In the 1893 election, Wilson stood successfully in the Otaki electorate[5] and Palmerston was won by Pirani, who was confirmed in 1896 and 1899,[8] but defeated in 1902 when he contested the Hutt electorate.[9] In the 1899 election, Prime Minister Richard Seddon expressed his opposition to Pirani (who had previously stood for the Liberal Party) by endorsing William Thomas Wood, who came second that year.[7]

Wood was the successful candidate in the 1902 election, and he was confirmed in 1905.[10] The 1908 election was held under the Second Ballot Act, contested by three candidates. David Buick, Wood and W. Milverton received 2675, 2626 and 123 votes, respectively. As Buick did not receive an absolute majority, a second ballot was required.[11] Buick standing for the Reform Party was again successful in the second round of voting and was thus elected.[12] Buick was re-elected in 1911 and 1914, but died in office on 18 November 1918 during the influenza epidemic.[13]

Jimmy Nash, the sitting Mayor of Palmerston North, won the resulting by-election on 19 December 1918.[14] Nash was confirmed at the next five general elections,[14] but was defeated in the 1935 election by Joe Hodgens of the Labour Party in an election also contested by the then-mayor, Gus Mansford.[15] Hodgens had previously contested the electorate in the 1922 and 1931 elections. He retired from the electorate at the 1946 election due to the deteriorating health of his wife.[15]

The 1946 election was contested between Ormond Wilson for Labour and Mansford, whose relationship with the National Party was strained, since his 1935 election campaign had contributed to the defeat of Nash. Mansford failed to get nominated by the National Party for the 1938 and 1943 elections. So in 1946, the National Party decided not to stand a candidate, with Mansford running as an Independent. Wilson obtained a majority of 928 votes.[16]

Wilson lost the subsequent election in 1949 against Blair Tennent of the National Party.[17][18] Tennent was confirmed at the subsequent election, but then lost against the Labour candidate, Philip Skoglund, in the 1954 election.[18] Skoglund contested the 1957 election against Bill Brown of the National Party and was confirmed by the voters. However, in the 1960 election, Brown beat Skoglund by the narrow majority of 123 votes. At the 1963 election, Brown had a 772-vote majority to Skoglund. The 1966 election was contested by Brown against Labour's Joe Walding, with Brown holding a 259-vote majority. Brown died in office on 16 October 1967 at a function in Kaiapoi.[19]

The resulting 1967 by-election was contested by five candidates: Walding (Labour Party), Gordon Cruden (National Party), John O'Brien (Social Credit Party), Goldingham (Progress) and P. J. Wedderspoon (Democratic Labour). Walding obtained a majority of 592 votes.[20] Walding represented the Palmerston North electorate until the 1975 election, when he was defeated by John Lithgow, and from 1978 to 1981. Six months prior to the 1981 election, he announced his retirement from Parliament.[20]

The Labour nomination was hotly contested and Trevor de Cleene, a good friend of Walding, was the most experienced candidate who put his name forward for selection, and despite concerns about his often controversial nature, he was nominated by the party. The candidate put forward by National was his old foe Brian Elwood, with whom he had worked on the Palmerston North City Council for many years, and against whom he lost the mayoralty contest in 1974. Elwood and de Cleene received 8315 and 10425 votes, respectively (representing 35.7% and 48.5% of the vote), with de Cleene thus entering Parliament in 1981.[21] De Cleene won the 1984 election, called early by Robert Muldoon, with an increased majority over National's candidate, C G Singleton.[21] In the 1987 election, de Cleene raised his share of the vote to 56.2%, defeating National's Paul Curry. He did not seek re-election in the 1990 election.[21]

Iain Lees-Galloway was selected by the Labour Party as successor to retiring MP Steve Maharey, who became Vice Chancellor of Massey University, in a contested Labour Party selection for the 2008 election.[22] Lees-Galloway defeated the National Party candidate, Malcolm Plimmer, with a majority of 1,117 votes.[23][24] In the 2011 election, Lees-Galloway was confirmed with an increased majority of 3,285 votes, defeating National's Leonie Hapeta.[25] In the 2014 election, Lees-Galloway was challenged by the Mayor of Palmerston North, Jono Naylor, but remained successful.[26] Lees-Galloway had a decreased majority of 2,212 votes over Naylor.[27] Naylor was the lowest-ranked National MP who entered Parliament via their list.[28][29] Ian Lees-Galloway retired before the 2020 election and was replaced by Tangi Utikere, the city's deputy mayor, as the electorate's MP.

### Members of Parliament

[edit]

Key

Independent   Conservative   Liberal   Independent Liberal   Reform   Labour   National   NZ First

Election  | Winner

|

1890 election |  | James Wilson
1893 election |  | Frederick Pirani
1896 election |
1899 election
1902 election |  | William Wood
1905 election
1908 election |  | David Buick
1911 election
1914 election
1918 by-election |  | Jimmy Nash
1919 election
1922 election
1925 election
1928 election
1931 election
1935 election |  | Joe Hodgens
1938 election
1943 election
1946 election |  | Ormond Wilson
1949 election |  | Blair Tennent
1951 election
1954 election |  | Philip Skoglund
1957 election
1960 election |  | Bill Brown
1963 election
1966 election
1967 by-election |  | Joe Walding
1969 election
1972 election
1975 election |  | John Lithgow
1978 election |  | Joe Walding
1981 election |  | Trevor de Cleene
1984 election
1987 election
1990 election |  | Steve Maharey
1993 election
1996 election
1999 election
2002 election
2005 election
2008 election |  | Iain Lees-Galloway
2011 election
2014 election
2017 election
2020 election |  | Tangi Utikere
2023 election

### List MPs

[edit]

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Palmerston North electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Election  | Winner

|

2014 election |  | Jono Naylor
| Darroch Ball
2017 election |
2020 election |  | Teanau Tuiono
2023 election

## Election results

[edit]

### 2023 election

[edit]

2023 general election: Palmerston North[30]

Notes:  |

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%  | Party votes  | %  | ±%
| Labour | Y Tangi Utikere | 15,339  | 43.06  | -16.50  | 11,293  | 31.30  | -23.59
| National | Ankit Bansal  | 12,252  | 34.39  |  | 12,195  | 33.80  | +11.88
| Green | Teanau Tuiono | 3,162  | 8.87  | +3.45  | 4,454  | 12.34  | +4.93
| ACT | Mike Hartnett  | 2,841  | 7.97  |  | 2,970  | 8.23  | +1.47
| NZ Loyal | Dean Grant  | 1,016  | 2.85  |  | 437  | 1.21  |
| Animal Justice | Douglas Begg  | 402  | 1.12  |  | 96  | 0.26  |
| NZ First |   | 2,242  | 6.21  | +3.23
| Opportunities |   | 821  | 2.27  | +0.32
| Te Pāti Māori |   | 625  | 1.73  | +1.27
| NewZeal |   | 290  | 0.80  | +0.51
| Legalise Cannabis |   | 199  | 0.55  | +0.15
| Freedoms NZ |   | 77  | 0.21  |
| New Conservative |   | 61  | 0.16  | -1.65
| DemocracyNZ |   | 47  | 0.13  |
| Women's Rights |   | 30  | 0.08  |
| Leighton Baker Party |   | 23  | 0.06  |
| New Nation |   | 17  | 0.04  |
Informal votes  | 608  |  |  | 201  |  |
Total valid votes | 35,620  |  |  | 36,078  |  |
| Labour hold | Majority | 3,087  | 8.66  | -24.43  |

### 2020 election

[edit]

2020 general election: Palmerston North[31]

Notes:  |

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%  | Party votes  | %  | ±%
| Labour | Tangi Utikere | 22,516  | 59.56  | +6.47  | 21,315  | 54.89  | +13.52
| National | William Wood  | 10,008  | 26.47  | -8.11  | 8,513  | 21.92  | -18.40
| Green | Teanau Tuiono | 2,049  | 5.42  | -0.25  | 2,876  | 7.41  | +1.29
| ACT | Jack Phillips  | 1,192  | 3.15  | —  | 2,626  | 6.76  | +6.37
| NZ First | Darroch Ball | 875  | 2.31  | -3.93  | 1,157  | 2.98  | -4.84
| New Conservative | David Poppelwell  | 733  | 1.94  | —  | 704  | 1.81  | +1.48
| Advance NZ | Sharon Lyon  | 430  | 1.14  | —  | 332  | 0.86  | —
| Opportunities |   | 756  | 1.95  | -0.72
| Māori Party |   | 177  | 0.46  | +0.06
| Legalise Cannabis |   | 157  | 0.40  | +0.13
| ONE |   | 112  | 0.29  | —
| Vision NZ |   | 30  | 0.08  | —
| Sustainable NZ |   | 24  | 0.06  | —
| Outdoors |   | 21  | 0.05  | ±0.00
| Social Credit |   | 13  | 0.03  | ±0.00
| TEA |   | 10  | 0.03  | —
| Heartland |   | 6  | 0.02  | —
Informal votes  | 768  |  |  | 274  |  |
Total valid votes | 37,803  |  |  | 38,829  |  |
Turnout | 39,103  | 84.0  | +3.39  |
| Labour hold | Majority | 12,508  | 33.09  | +14.58  |

### 2017 election

[edit]

2017 general election: Palmerston North[32]

Notes:  |

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%  | Party votes  | %  | ±%
| Labour | Y Iain Lees-Galloway | 18,388  | 53.09  | +3.39  | 14,648  | 41.37  | +10.49
| National | Adrienne Pierce  | 11,946  | 34.58  | −8.61  | 14,276  | 40.32  | −2.77
| NZ First | Darroch Ball | 2,155  | 6.24  | +2.66  | 2,767  | 7.82  | −0.82
| Green | Thomas Nash  | 1,960  | 5.67  | —  | 2,166  | 6.12  | −3.73
| Money Free | Scott Andrew  | 142  | 0.41  | —  |
| Opportunities |   | 944  | 2.67  | —
| Māori Party |   | 141  | 0.40  | −0.08
| ACT |   | 138  | 0.39  | −0.12
| Conservative |   | 116  | 0.33  | −4.17
| Legalise Cannabis |   | 96  | 0.27  | −0.09
| United Future |   | 30  | 0.08  | −0.15
| Ban 1080 |   | 18  | 0.05  | −0.04
| People's Party |   | 17  | 0.05  | —
| Outdoors |   | 16  | 0.05  | —
| Mana Party |   | 15  | 0.04  | −0.92[a]
| Democrats |   | 11  | 0.03  | ±0.00
| Internet |   | 7  | 0.02  | −0.94[b]
Informal votes  | 471  |  |  | 139  |  |
Total valid votes | 34,551  |  |  | 35,406  |  |
Turnout | 35,545  |  |  |
| Labour hold | Majority | 6,392  | 18.51  | +12.00  |

### 2014 election

[edit]

2014 general election: Palmerston North[27]

Notes:  |

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%  | Party votes  | %  | ±%
| Labour | Y Iain Lees-Galloway | 16,885  | 49.70  | −1.62  | 10,632  | 30.88  | −3.00
| National | Jono Naylor | 14,673  | 43.19  | +2.07  | 14,835  | 43.09  | −1.03
| NZ First | Darroch Ball | 1,217  | 3.58  | +3.58  | 2,973  | 8.64  | +2.98
| Conservative | Mark Pearce  | 689  | 2.03  | −0.07  | 1,549  | 4.50  | +1.48
| Internet | Pani Farvid  | 250  | 0.74  | +0.74  |
| Green |   | 3,390  | 9.85  | −0.65
| Internet Mana |   | 330  | 0.96  | +0.68[c]
| ACT |   | 175  | 0.51  | −0.23
| Māori Party |   | 166  | 0.48  | −0.03
| Legalise Cannabis |   | 123  | 0.36  | −0.12
| United Future |   | 80  | 0.23  | −0.41
| Ban 1080 |   | 30  | 0.09  | +0.09
| Civilian |   | 24  | 0.07  | +0.07
| Democrats |   | 10  | 0.03  | −0.02
| Independent Coalition |   | 10  | 0.03  | +0.03
| Focus |   | 7  | 0.02  | +0.02
Informal votes  | 257  |  |  | 93  |  |
Total valid votes | 33,871  |  |  | 34,427  |  |
Turnout | 34,427  | 79.37  | +3.46  |
| Labour hold | Majority | 2,212  | 6.51  | −3.69  |

### 2011 election

[edit]

2011 general election: Palmerston North[25]

Notes:  |

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%  | Party votes  | %  | ±%
| Labour | Y Iain Lees-Galloway | 16,525  | 51.32  | +4.50  | 11,194  | 33.88  | -6.80
| National | Leonie Hapeta  | 13,240  | 41.12  | -2.43  | 14,577  | 44.12  | +3.46
| Green | Corrina Tucker  | 1,485  | 4.61  | +0.19  | 3,469  | 10.50  | +3.99
| Conservative | Andrew Marquet  | 675  | 2.10  | +2.10  | 997  | 3.02  | +3.02
| ACT | Daniel Stratton  | 167  | 0.52  | -0.71  | 245  | 0.74  | -1.99
| United Future | Sultan Eusoff  | 109  | 0.34  | -0.42  | 210  | 0.64  | -0.60
| NZ First |   | 1,870  | 5.66  | +1.61
| Māori Party |   | 168  | 0.51  | -0.20
| Legalise Cannabis |   | 157  | 0.48  | +0.07
| Mana |   | 94  | 0.28  | +0.28
| Alliance |   | 23  | 0.07  | +0.02
| Libertarianz |   | 19  | 0.06  | +0.01
| Democrats |   | 15  | 0.05  | +0.03
Informal votes  | 667  |  |  | 230  |  |
Total valid votes | 32,201  |  |  | 33,038  |  |
| Labour hold | Majority | 3,285  | 10.20  | +6.93  |

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 43,524[33]

### 2008 election

[edit]

2008 general election: Palmerston North[34]

Notes:  |

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%  | Party votes  | %  | ±%
| Labour | Iain Lees-Galloway | 15,977  | 46.82  |  | 14,108  | 40.68  |
| National | Malcolm Plimmer  | 14,860  | 43.55  |  | 14,103  | 40.66  |
| Green | Lawrence O'Halloran  | 1,509  | 4.42  |  | 2,258  | 6.51  |
| NZ First | Graham Odering  | 658  | 1.93  |  | 1,404  | 4.05  |
| ACT | Kevin Dittmer  | 420  | 1.23  |  | 948  | 2.73  |
| Progressive | Debbie Lucas  | 261  | 0.76  |  | 408  | 1.18  |
| United Future | Frank Owen  | 259  | 0.76  |  | 430  | 1.24  |
| Independent | Grant Seton  | 107  | 0.31  |  |
| Independent | Arshad Chatha  | 74  | 0.22  |  |
| Bill and Ben |   | 338  | 0.97  |
| Māori Party |   | 247  | 0.71  |
| Legalise Cannabis |   | 139  | 0.40  |
| Kiwi |   | 117  | 0.34  |
| Family Party |   | 89  | 0.26  |
| Pacific |   | 37  | 0.11  |
| Alliance |   | 16  | 0.05  |
| Libertarianz |   | 16  | 0.05  |
| Workers Party |   | 12  | 0.03  |
| Democrats |   | 6  | 0.02  |
| RONZ |   | 4  | 0.01  |
| RAM |   | 2  | 0.01  |
Informal votes  | 341  |  |  | 159  |  |
Total valid votes | 34,125  |  |  | 34,682  |  |
| Labour hold | Majority | 1,117  | 3.27  |  |

### 2005 election

[edit]

2005 general election: Palmerston North[35]

Notes:  |

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%  | Party votes  | %  | ±%
| Labour | Y Steve Maharey | 17,263  | 53.87  |  | 14,642  | 44.98  |
| National | Malcolm Plimmer  | 11,763  | 36.71  |  | 11,943  | 36.69  |
| Green | Lawrence O'Hallorahan  | 1,141  | 3.56  |  | 2,116  | 6.50  |
| NZ First | Graham Odering  | 853  | 2.66  |  | 1,673  | 5.14  |
| United Future | Gary Pedersen  | 627  | 1.96  |  | 1,071  | 3.29  |
| Progressive | Dawn Patchett  | 251  | 0.78  |  | 370  | 1.14  |
| Independent | Archard Chatha  | 147  | 0.46  |  |
| ACT |   | 285  | 0.88  |
| Māori Party |   | 161  | 0.49  |
| Destiny |   | 116  | 0.36  |
| Legalise Cannabis |   | 59  | 0.18  |
| Christian Heritage |   | 49  | 0.15  |
| Libertarianz |   | 18  | 0.06  |
| Alliance |   | 14  | 0.04  |
| 99 MP |   | 10  | 0.03  |
| One NZ |   | 7  | 0.02  |
| Democrats |   | 6  | 0.02  |
| Direct Democracy |   | 6  | 0.02  |
| RONZ |   | 4  | 0.01  |
| Family Rights |   | 2  | 0.01  |
Informal votes  | 276  |  |  | 105  |  |
Total valid votes | 35,460  |  |  | 35,983  |  |
| Labour hold | Majority | 5,500  | 17.16  |  |

### 1999 election

[edit]

Refer to Candidates in the New Zealand general election 1999 by electorate#Palmerston North for a list of candidates.

### 1993 election

[edit]

1993 general election: Palmerston North[36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Steve Maharey | 9,049  | 46.24  | +4.29
| National | Barbara Stones  | 5,285  | 27.00  |
| Alliance | Gerard Hehir  | 3,474  | 17.75  |
| NZ First | Graham Odering  | 1,220  | 6.23  |
| Christian Heritage | Kay Burgess  | 413  | 2.11  | +1.44
| Natural Law | Tony Martin  | 66  | 0.33  |
| Independent | Pat Goaley  | 48  | 0.24  | +0.02
| Independent | Evan Matthew Nattrass  | 40  | 0.20  |
Majority | 3,764  | 19.23  | +17.47
Turnout | 19,569  | 83.25  | +1.02
Registered electors | 23,504  |  |

### 1990 election

[edit]

1990 general election: Palmerston North[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Steve Maharey | 8,283  | 41.95  |
| National | Paul Sherriff  | 7,934  | 40.18  |
| Green | Ashok Parbhu  | 1,465  | 7.41  |
| Social Credit | Bruce Beetham | 851  | 4.31  |
| NewLabour | B J Short  | 701  | 3.55  |
| Christian Heritage | Kay Burgess  | 359  | 1.81  |
| Democrats | S A M Collins  | 107  | 0.54  |
| Independent | Pat Goaley  | 44  | 0.22  |
Majority | 349  | 1.76  |
Turnout | 19,744  | 84.27  | −3.52
Registered electors | 23,429  |  |

### 1987 election

[edit]

1987 general election: Palmerston North[38] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Trevor de Cleene | 11,192  | 56.20  | +5.85
| National | Paul Curry  | 7,955  | 39.95  |
| Democrats | Jacqueline Lush  | 505  | 2.53  |
| McGillicuddy Serious | N G Colless  | 170  | 0.85  |
| NZ Party | E B Halford  | 90  | 0.45  |
Majority | 3,327  | 16.70  | +1.94
Turnout | 19,912  | 87.79  | −4.16
Registered electors | 22,681  |  |

### 1984 election

[edit]

1984 general election: Palmerston North[38] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Trevor de Cleene | 10,341  | 50.35  | +1.88
| National | Colleen Singleton  | 7,308  | 35.58  |
| NZ Party | Carol Coupler  | 2,123  | 10.33  |
| Social Credit | Bobbie Smith  | 765  | 3.72  |
Majority | 3,033  | 14.76  | +4.95
Turnout | 20,537  | 91.95  | +1.99
Registered electors | 22,333  |  |

### 1981 election

[edit]

1981 general election: Palmerston North[38] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Trevor de Cleene | 10,425  | 48.47  |
| National | Brian Elwood | 8,315  | 38.66  |
| Social Credit | Jacqueline Lush  | 2,567  | 11.93  |
| Values | Hone Te Kaa  | 113  | 0.52  |
| Independent | W J Harris  | 87  | 0.40  |
Majority | 2,110  | 9.81  |
Turnout | 21,507  | 89.96  | +22.56
Registered electors | 23,905  |  |

### 1978 election

[edit]

1978 general election: Palmerston North[38] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Joe Walding | 10,629  | 49.02  | +6.35
| National | John Lithgow | 7,893  | 36.40  | −6.97
| Social Credit | Peter Edmonds  | 2,558  | 11.79  | +4.63
| Values | George Ferdinand Serrallich  | 551  | 2.54  |
| Tory | Andrew John Smith  | 48  | 0.22  |
Majority | 2,736  | 12.62  |
Turnout | 21,679  | 67.40  | −16.25
Registered electors | 32,162  |  |

### 1975 election

[edit]

1975 general election: Palmerston North[38] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | John Lithgow | 8,801  | 43.37  |
| Labour | Joe Walding | 8,659  | 42.67  | −7.89
| Social Credit | Peter Edmonds  | 1,453  | 7.16  |
| Values | Neil Rennie  | 1,378  | 6.79  |
Majority | 142  | 0.69  |
Turnout | 20,291  | 83.65  | −6.03
Registered electors | 24,257  |  |

### 1972 election

[edit]

1972 general election: Palmerston North[38] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Joe Walding | 8,888  | 50.56  | +3.52
| National | Paul William Mitchell  | 7,122  | 40.51  |
| Social Credit | B K Harper  | 694  | 3.94  |
| Values | D J Woodhams  | 676  | 3.84  |
| Mad Hatter's Tea Party  | Mickey Mouse[nb 1] | 76  | 0.43  |
| New Democratic | L A Inglis  | 32  | 0.18  |
Majority | 1,766  | 10.04  | +9.15
Turnout | 17,579  | 89.68  | −1.50
Registered electors | 19,600  |  |

Table footnotes:

1. ^ Candidate Chris Lawrence changed his name on the ballot to "Mickey Mouse".[39]

### 1969 election

[edit]

1969 general election: Palmerston North[40] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Joe Walding | 8,492  | 47.04  | +3.10
| National | Gordon Cruden  | 8,331  | 46.15  | +5.96
| Social Credit | Les Hunter | 1,229  | 6.80  |
Majority | 161  | 0.89  | −2.86
Turnout | 18,052  | 91.18  | +14.79
Registered electors | 19,797  |  |

### 1967 by-election

[edit]

1967 Palmerston North by-election Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Joe Walding | 6,939  | 43.94  | −0.56
| National | Gordon Cruden  | 6,347  | 40.19  |
| Social Credit | John O'Brien | 2,410  | 15.26  |
| Democratic Labour  | Jamie Wedderspoon  | 61  | 0.39  |
| Democratic Progress | J Q Goldingham  | 34  | 0.22  |
Majority | 592  | 3.75  |
Turnout | 15,791  | 76.39  | −12.56
Registered electors | 19,873  |  |
| Labour gain from National | Swing |  |

### 1966 election

[edit]

1966 general election: Palmerston North[40] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Bill Brown | 7,865  | 46.01  | −3.17
| Labour | Joe Walding | 7,606  | 44.50  |
| Social Credit | George Thew  | 1,620  | 9.47  |
Majority | 259  | 1.51  | −3.20
Turnout | 17,091  | 88.95  | −2.62
Registered electors | 19,213  |  |

### 1963 election

[edit]

1963 general election: Palmerston North[40] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Bill Brown | 8,047  | 49.18  | +2.74
| Labour | Philip Skoglund | 7,275  | 44.46  | +1.15
| Social Credit | T A Greenwood  | 815  | 4.98  |
| Liberal | R J Pedley  | 165  | 1.00  |
| Communist | Gordon Allison  | 58  | 0.35  |
Majority | 772  | 4.71  | +3.88
Turnout | 16,360  | 91.57  | +0.90
Registered electors | 17,865  |  |

### 1960 election

[edit]

1960 general election: Palmerston North[40] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Bill Brown | 7,401  | 46.44  | +4.17
| Labour | Philip Skoglund | 7,268  | 45.61  | −5.58
| Social Credit | Roy Matheson Gunn  | 1,186  | 7.44  |
| Communist | Frederick William Manning  | 79  | 0.49  |
Majority | 133  | 0.83  |
Turnout | 15,934  | 90.67  | −2.51
Registered electors | 17,572  |  |

### 1957 election

[edit]

1957 general election: Palmerston North[40] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Philip Skoglund | 7,931  | 51.19  | +2.94
| National | Bill Brown | 6,583  | 42.49  |
| Social Credit | Henry Harold Egmont Kensington  | 978  | 6.31  |
Majority | 1,348  | 8.70  | +6.37
Turnout | 15,492  | 93.18  | −0.89
Registered electors | 16,625  |  |

### 1954 election

[edit]

1954 general election: Palmerston North[40] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Philip Skoglund | 7,160  | 48.25  |
| National | Blair Tennent | 6,814  | 45.92  | −4.77
| Social Credit | S W Wood  | 863  | 5.81  |
Majority | 346  | 2.33  |
Turnout | 14,837  | 94.07  | +4.02
Registered electors | 15,772  |  |

### 1951 election

[edit]

1951 general election: Palmerston North[41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Blair Tennent | 7,288  | 50.69  | −1.13
| Labour | Joe Hodgens | 7,088  | 49.31  |
Majority | 200  | 1.39  | −2.25
Turnout | 14,376  | 90.05  | −3.12
Registered electors | 15,964  |  |

### 1949 election

[edit]

1949 general election: Palmerston North[42] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| National | Blair Tennent | 7,368  | 51.82  |
| Labour | Ormond Wilson | 6,850  | 48.17  | −5.25
Majority | 518  | 3.64  |
Turnout | 14,218  | 93.17  | +0.17
Registered electors | 15,260  |  |

### 1946 election

[edit]

1946 general election: Palmerston North[43] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Ormond Wilson | 7,237  | 53.42  |
| Independent | Gus Mansford | 6,309  | 46.57  | −0.08
Majority | 928  | 6.85  |
Turnout | 13,546  | 93.00  | +1.92
Registered electors | 14,565  |  |

### 1943 election

[edit]

1943 general election: Palmerston North[44] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Joe Hodgens | 7,346  | 48.03  | −9.24
| Independent | Gus Mansford | 7,134  | 46.65  |
| Democratic Labour | Sydney Hindmarsh  | 613  | 4.00  |
Informal votes  | 199  | 1.30  | +0.86
Majority | 212  | 1.38  | −13.60
Turnout | 15,292  | 91.08  | +2.41
Registered electors | 16,789  |  |

### 1938 election

[edit]

1938 general election: Palmerston North[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Joe Hodgens | 8,093  | 57.27  | +22.81
| National | Jimmy Nash | 5,975  | 42.28  | +10.37
Informal votes  | 63  | 0.44  | +0.02
Majority | 2,118  | 14.98  | +14.15
Turnout | 14,131  | 88.67  | −1.33
Registered electors | 15,936  |  |

### 1935 election

[edit]

1935 general election: Palmerston[46] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Joe Hodgens | 4,730  | 34.46  | −10.31
| Independent | Gus Mansford | 4,615  | 33.62  |
| Reform | Jimmy Nash | 4,380  | 31.91  | −23.42
Informal votes  | 58  | 0.42  | −0.15
Majority | 115  | 0.83  |
Turnout | 13,725  | 90.00  | +6.18
Registered electors | 15,249  |  |

### 1931 election

[edit]

1931 general election: Palmerston[47] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Reform | Jimmy Nash | 6,465  | 55.33  | +5.92
| Labour | Joe Hodgens | 5,220  | 44.67  |
Majority | 1,245  | 10.65  | −10.23
Informal votes  | 67  | 0.57  | −1.07
Turnout | 11,752  | 83.82  | −3.88
Registered electors | 14,020  |  |

### 1928 election

[edit]

1928 general election: Palmerston[48] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Reform | Jimmy Nash | 5,558  | 49.40  | −16.91
| Labour | Walter Bromley  | 3,208  | 28.52  | −5.17
| United | Charles Loughnan[nb 1] | 2,484  | 22.08  |
Majority | 2,350  | 20.89  | −11.75
Informal votes  | 188  | 1.64  | −0.44
Turnout | 11,438  | 87.71  | −2.04
Registered electors | 13,041  |  |

Table footnotes:

1. ^ Charles Loughnan (died 1955), younger brother of Robert and Henry Loughnan, was the founder of Loughnan and Jacobs, solicitors in Palmerston North, now Jacobs Florentine.[49]

### 1925 election

[edit]

1925 general election: Palmerston[50] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Reform | Jimmy Nash | 6,584  | 66.32  |
| Labour | Walter Bromley  | 3,344  | 33.68  |
Majority | 3,240  | 32.63  |
Informal votes  | 211  | 2.08  |
Turnout | 10,139  | 89.75  |
Registered electors | 11,297  |  |

### 1919 election

[edit]

1919 general election: Palmerston[51] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Reform | Jimmy Nash | 4,617  | 54.94  | +13.38
| Labour | Moses Ayrton | 3,613  | 42.99  |
Informal votes  | 173  | 2.05  |
Majority | 1,004  | 11.94  | +6.07
Turnout | 8,403  |  |

### 1918 by-election

[edit]

1918 Palmerston by-election[52] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Reform | Jimmy Nash | 2,229  | 41.56  |
| Labour | Alexander Galbraith | 1,914  | 35.68  |
| Liberal | Ernest Hugh Crabb[53] | 1,119  | 20.86  |
| Independent Reform | A. Buchanan  | 101  | 1.88  |
Majority | 315  | 5.87  |
Turnout | 5,363  |  |

### 1899 election

[edit]

1899 general election: Palmerston[54] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Independent Liberal | Frederick Pirani | 1,980  | 48.49  | −2.30
| Liberal | William Thomas Wood | 1,465  | 35.88  |
| Conservative | David Buick | 638  | 15.63  | −33.58
Majority | 515  | 12.61  | +11.03
Turnout | 4,083  | 76.32  | −2.90
Registered electors | 5,350  |  |

### 1890 election

[edit]

1890 general election: Palmerston[55] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Wilson | 1,055  | 43.14  |
| Liberal–Labour | Frederick Pirani | 994  | 40.65  |
| Liberal | John Stevens | 396  | 16.19  |
Majority | 61  | 2.49  |
Turnout | 2,445  | 63.55  |
Registered electors | 3,847  |  |

## Table footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ 2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election
2. ^ 2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election
3. ^ 2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for Mana in 2011; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 54ff.
2. ^ Report of the Representation Commission 2007 (PDF). Representation Commission. 14 September 2007. p. 9\. ISBN 978-0-477-10414-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
3. ^ Report of the Representation Commission 2014 (PDF). Representation Commission. 4 April 2014. p. 9\. ISBN 978-0-477-10414-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
4. ^ "Palmerston North electorate profile". Parliamentary Library. December 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018. This article incorporates text by the Parliamentary Library available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
5. ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 148.
6. ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 157.
7. ^ a b Oliver, Steven (22 June 2007). "Pirani, Frederick 1858–1926". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
8. ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 132.
9. ^ "Untitled". The Evening Post. Vol. LXIV, no. 131\. 29 November 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
10. ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 149.
11. ^ "Palmerston". The Wanganui Herald. Vol. XXXXIII, no. 12621\. 18 November 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
12. ^ "In other Districts". Nelson Evening Mail. Vol. XLII. 25 November 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
13. ^ "David Buick : Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1908–1918" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
14. ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 128.
15. ^ a b Atkinson, Neill. "Hodgens, Joseph". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
16. ^ Hancock, Mervyn (December 2005). "George Hamish Ormond Wilson : Member of Parliament for Rangitikei 1935–1938 Palmerston North 1946–1949" (PDF). Palmerston North Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
17. ^ Paul, Janet. "Wilson, George Hamish Ormond - Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
18. ^ a b Pilkington, Dorothy. "Tennent, William Blair - Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
19. ^ Hancock, Mervyn (December 2005). "George Hamish Ormond Wilson : Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1960–67" (PDF). Palmerston North Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
20. ^ a b Hancock, Mervyn (December 2005). "Joseph Albert Walding : Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1967–1975 1978–1981" (PDF). Palmerston North Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
21. ^ a b c Hancock, Mervyn (December 2005). "Trevor Albert De Cleene : Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1981–1990" (PDF). Palmerston North Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
22. ^ Dykes, Mervyn (29 April 2009). "Man about the House". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
23. ^ "Official Count Results -- Palmerston North". Chief Electoral Officer. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
24. ^ "Iain Lees-Galloway". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
25. ^ a b "Official Count Results -- Palmerston North (2011)". Chief Electoral Officer. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
26. ^ "Lees-Galloway returned as MP". Manawatu Standard. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
27. ^ a b "Official Count Results -- Palmerston North (2014)". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
28. ^ Townend, Lucy (4 October 2014). "Naylor confirmed as MP". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
29. ^ Rutherford, Hamish (4 October 2014). "National loses majority, Greens pick up one". Stuff. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
30. ^ "Palmerston North - Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
31. ^ "Official Count Results -- Palmerston North (2020)". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
32. ^ "Official Count Results -- Palmerston North (2017)". Electoral Commission. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
33. ^ "Enrolment statistics". Electoral Commission. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
34. ^ 2008 election results Archived 2008-12-11 at the Wayback Machine
35. ^ "Official Count Results -- Palmerston North". Elections.org.nz. 1 October 2005. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
36. ^ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1993. pp. 12, 161.
37. ^ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1990.
38. ^ a b c d e f Norton 1988, pp. 309.
39. ^ "Mr Mickey Mouse Accepted as Candidate". The Evening Post. 1 November 1972. p. 1.
40. ^ a b c d e f Norton 1988, pp. 308.
41. ^ "The New Zealand Official Year-Book, 1951–52". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
42. ^ "The General Election, 1949". National Library. 1950. pp. 1–5, 8. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
43. ^ "The General Election, 1946". National Library. 1947. pp. 1–11, 14. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
44. ^ "The General Election, 1943". National Library. 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
45. ^ "The General Election, 1938". National Library. 1939. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
46. ^ The General Election, 1935. Government Printer. 1936. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
47. ^ The General Election, 1931. Government Printer. 1932. p. 4. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
48. ^ The General Election, 1928. Government Printer. 1929. p. 4. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
49. ^ "About Jacobs Florentine". Jacobs Florentine. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
50. ^ The General Election, 1925. Government Printer. 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
51. ^ Hislop, J. (1921). The General Election, 1919. National Library. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
52. ^ "By-election Results". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LV, no. 17038\. 20 December 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
53. ^ Hughes, Beryl. "Helen Priscilla Crabb". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
54. ^ "The General Election, 1899". Wellington: Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives. 19 June 1900. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
55. ^ "The General Election, 1890". National Library. 1891. Retrieved 25 February 2012.

## References

[edit]

* McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
* Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946-1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
* Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
* Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.

## External links

[edit]

* The First Sixteen Members of Parliament for Palmerston North, lectures presented in association with the Manawatu Workers' Association (WEA) Mervyn Hancock, Palmerston North City Library
* Electorate Profile Parliamentary Library

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