The previous electoral redistribution was undertaken in 1875 for the1875–1876 election. In the six years since, New Zealand's European population had increased by 65%. In the 1881 electoral redistribution, theHouse of Representatives increased the number of European representatives to 91 (up from 84 since the 1875–76 election). The number of Māori electorates was held at four. The House further decided that electorates should not have more than one representative, which led to 35 new electorates being formed, including Tauranga, and two electorates that had previously been abolished to be recreated. This necessitated a major disruption to existing boundaries.[1]
Tauranga electorate was created for the1881 election, which determined the composition of the8th Parliament. Initially, it existed until the1890 election and during that time, it was represented by four MPs.[3]
The 1881 election was hotly contested. Four candidates were nominated:George Morris, who had previously represented theEast Coast electorate;George Vesey Stewart, then the owner of theBay of Plenty Times;William Kelly, who had also previously represented the East Coast electorate; and Henry Thomas Rowe, a surveyor and commission agent.[4] Rowe announced his retirement from the contest on 6 December three days out from election day, urging his supporters to vote for Stewart instead.[5] The unofficial results were released the day after the election (Saturday, 10 December) and Morris had a majority of 13 votes over Stewart, with the official declaration to be made on 12 December.[6] This was deferred until 14 December, with Morris ahead by 10 votes.[7] Stewart stood for theTauranga mayoralty a few months later and was elected the town's first mayor.[8]
Morris was re-elected in the1884 election, but resigned in April 1885, as he had been appointed to theLegislative Council.[9] The resulting by-election on 22 May1885 was won byJohn Sheehan, who died on 12 June 1885.[10] The second1885 by-election on 11 July was won byLawrence Grace, who represented the electorate until the end of the term in 1887.[11] The1887 election was won byWilliam Kelly, who represented the electorate until the end of the term in 1890,[12] at which time the electorate was abolished.[3]
The electorate was recreated in 1908.[3]William Herries was the first representative, elected at the1908 election; he had since the1896 election represented theBay of Plenty electorate. He became a member of theReform Party when it formed itself in the following year. Herries represented the electorate until his death on 22 February 1923.[13]
Doidge was succeeded byGeorge Walsh, who won the1951 election. Walsh served for seven terms and retired in 1972.Keith Allen was the next representative, first elected in1972 and an MP until his death shortly before the1984 election.
Allen's death did not cause a by-election, as it occurred within six months of the next general election. The 1984 election was won byWinston Peters, who had previously represented theHunua electorate. In 1990 until March 1991, Peters wasMinister of Māori Affairs,[17] but he was sacked from Cabinet by Prime MinisterJim Bolger in October 1991 after repeatedly criticising his National Party leadership. Peters remained as a Nationalbackbencher, continuing to criticise the party. In late 1992, when the National Party was considering possible candidates for the elections in the following year, it was decided that Peters would not be allowed to seek renomination for the Tauranga electorate. Peters unsuccessfully challenged this decision in theHigh Court, and in early 1993, he chose to resign from the party and from Parliament. This prompted aby-election in Tauranga some months before the scheduled general election. Peters stood as an independent and won with over 90% of the vote, assisted by the major parties not standing candidates against him.[18] Shortly before the1993 election, Peters establishedNew Zealand First and retained the Tauranga electorate. He continued to represent Tauranga until he was defeated in the2005 election by National'sBob Clarkson.[19]
Clarkson's defeat of Winston Peters was significant, as this resulted in New Zealand First losing its only electorate seat. The party still gained parliamentary representation by polling over the five percent threshold, however. Clarkson retired at the end of the parliamentary term. He was succeeded by National'sSimon Bridges, who won the2008 election, with Peters coming a distant second.[20] Bridges was re-elected in2011.[21]
Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Tauranga electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
Notes:Blue background denotes the winner of the by-election. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list prior to the by-election. Yellow background denotes the winner of the by-election, who was a list MP prior to the by-election. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
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. AY orN denotes status of anyincumbent, win or lose respectively.
Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report).Chief Electoral Office. 1993.
McRobie, Alan (1989).Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books.ISBN0-477-01384-8.
Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913].New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
Wilson, Jim (1985) [First published in 1913].New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer.OCLC154283103.
Norton, Clifford (1988).New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.ISBN0-475-11200-8.
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YSam Uffindell
NWinston Peters