Through an amendment in the Electoral Act in 1965, the number of electorates in theSouth Island was fixed at 25, an increase of one since the 1962 electoral redistribution.[1] It was accepted that through the more rapid population growth in theNorth Island, the number of its electorates would continue to increase, and to keep proportionality, three new electorates were allowed for in the 1967 electoral redistribution for the next election.[2] In the North Island, five electorates were newly created (Birkenhead,Hamilton West,Henderson,Mangere, andWestern Hutt) and one electorate was reconstituted (Waikato) while three electorates were abolished (Hamilton,Waipa, andWaitakere).[3] In the South Island, three electorates were newly created (Papanui,South Canterbury, andWigram) and one electorate was reconstituted (Oamaru) while three electorates were abolished (Ashburton,Fendalton, andWaitaki).[4] The overall effect of the required changes was highly disruptive to existing electorates, with all but three electorates (Franklin,Wairarapa, andSt Kilda) having their boundaries altered.[5] These changes came into effect with the 1969 election.[2]
The increase to 84 electorates was the first since the 1902 electoral distribution.[6] Due to the fixed number of South Island electorates, the number of North Island electorates has increased in every subsequent election until the introduction ofmixed-member proportional representation (MMP) for the1996 election, which fixed the number of seats at 120.[7]
SirWalter Nash MP forHutt had announced he would retire at the end of the term in 1969, but he died on 4 June 1968 triggering a by-election instead.[8]
The election was held on 29 November. Turnout was 88.94%. The total number of MPs had increased to 84,[9] with at least 3 of the 4 new seats likely Labour seats. 55 and 25 electorates were in theNorth Island andSouth Island, respectively, plus the 4 Māori electorates.[10]
National pulled off a cliff-hanger victory.National won 45 seats, andLabour won 39 seats, though Labour's share of the vote was only 1% behind National. TheSocial Credit Party lost its only seat in Parliament:Hobson, formerly held by then party leaderVernon Cracknell.
Despite the hopes of a reinvigorated Labour party underNorman Kirk, Labour was overconfident, started too late, and did not win in Auckland. Relations with the Federation of Labour and the unions were not good, and an industrial dispute on the shipWainui cost Labour three Auckland seats according to Kirk. Labour MPWarren Freer personally believed that "had it not been for the seamen's strike during the election period, we could have won".[11]
InEden, Labour was first on election night but lost when special votes were counted.
McRobie, Alan (1989).Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books.ISBN0-477-01384-8.
Norton, Clifford (1988).New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.ISBN0-475-11200-8.
Templeton, Ian; Eunson, Keith (1969).Election '69.
Templeton, Ian; Eunson, Keith (1972).In the Balance: Election '72. Dunedin: John McIndoe.
Wilson, Jim (1985) [First published in 1913].New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer.OCLC154283103.
