Courtenay was a parliamentaryelectorate inCanterbury, New Zealand from 1902 to 1908. The electorate was represented by oneMember of Parliament,Charles Lewis.
The Representation Act 1900 had increased the membership of theHouse of Representatives from general electorates 70 to 76, and this was implemented through the 1902 electoral redistribution. In 1902, changes to thecountry quota affected the three-member electorates in the four main centres. The tolerance between electorates was increased to ±1,250 so that theRepresentation Commissions (since 1896, there had been separate commissions for theNorth andSouth Islands) could take greater account of communities of interest. These changes proved very disruptive to existing boundaries, and six electorates were established for the first time, including Courtenay, and two electorates that previously existed were re-established.[1]
The Courtenay electorate was based on the Canterbury area ofKirwee andCourtenay. The settlement of Courtenay on the south bank of the Waimakariri River dates from the 1850s.
In the 1907 electoral redistribution, a major change that had to be allowed for was a reduction of the tolerance to ±750 to those electorates where the country quota applied. TheNorth Island had once again a higher population growth than theSouth Island, and three seats were transferred from south to north. In the resulting boundary distribution, every existing electorate was affected, and some were abolished, including the Courtenay electorate. These changes took effect with the1908 election.[2]
Courtenay was represented by one Member of Parliament:[3]
Key
| Election | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 1902 election | Charles Lewis | |
| 1905 election | ||