New Zealand general election 1981
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The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, win a third term in office, although the opposition Labour Party, led by Bill Rowling, actually won the largest share of the votes cast.
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Background
Before the election, the National Party governed with 50 seats, while the opposition Labour Party held 40 seats. The Social Credit Party held two (one of which had been taken from National in a recent by-election). The National Party had won a landslide victory in the 1975 election, but in the 1978 election, although remaining in office, had lost ground. The style of Robert Muldoon's leadership was growing increasingly unpopular, both with his party and with the public, and there had been an abortive leadership challenge by Brian Talboys in 1980. Some commentators believed that the 1981 election would mark an end to Muldoon's government.
The opposition Labour Party was led by Bill Rowling, who had been leader of the party in the past two elections. While Rowling had performed poorly against Muldoon in 1975, and was generally viewed by the public as weak, he had gradually recovered a measure of public respect. In the previous election, Labour had actually won a majority of the vote, but did not win a majority of the seats. Many believed that this time, Labour would manage to convert its support into seats, although that would prove not to be the case.
Not all of Muldoon's opponents gave their support to Rowling and the Labour Party, however - the small Social Credit Party, traditionally New Zealand's "third party", was enjoying strong support, although the first-past-the-post electoral system made it difficult for Social Credit to win seats.
The election
The election was held on 28 November. 2,034,747 people were registered to vote, and 91.4% turned out. This was a markedly higher turnout than recorded for the previous election, but as the official statistics for that election are regarded as highly misleading, the comparison is probably not valid. It is likely that turnout in the 1981 election was about the same as in the election before it.
Summary of results
The 1981 election saw the National Party win 47 of the 92 seats in parliament, a drop of three from before the election. This meant that National kept its majority by only a single seat, a fact which would prove highly problematic over the next parliamentary term. The Labour Party won 43 seats, a gain of three. The Social Credit Party managed to retain its two seats.
Detailed results
Party totals
| Party | Candidates | Total votes | Percentage | Seats won |
| National Party | 92 | 698,508 | 38.77% | 47 |
| Labour Party | 92 | 702,630 | 39.01% | 43 |
| Social Credit Party | 92 | 372,056 | 20.65% | 2 |
| Values Party | 17 | 3,460 | 0.19% | - |
| Mana Motuhake | 4 | 8,332 | 0.46% | - |
| Wizard Party | 4 | 467 | 0.03% | - |
| Socialist Unity Party | 5 | 447 | 0.02% | - |
| LIFE | 1 | 250 | 0.01% | - |
| Cheer Up Party | 1 | 208 | 0.01% | - |
| Independent Candidate | 1 | 189 | 0.01% | - |
| Economic Euthenics | 1 | 191 | 0.01% | - |
| No Confidence | 1 | 153 | 0.01% | - |
| Private Enterprise Party | 1 | 120 | 0.01% | - |
| Liberal Social Democratic Party | 1 | 107 | 0.01% | - |
| Pacific Republic | 1 | 91 | 0.01% | - |
| Citizens' Democratic Party | 1 | 81 | 0.00% | - |
| Clients' Party | 1 | 78 | 0.00% | - |
| Apolitical Party | 1 | 56 | 0.00% | - |
| Sturdy Independent Party | 1 | 43 | 0.00% | - |
| New Force | 1 | 43 | 0.00% | - |
| Independents (including 2 Independent National and 1 Alternative Social Credit) | 19 | 13,806 | 0.77% | - |
Map of electorates
Missing image
NewZealandElectorates1981.png
image:NewZealandElectorates1981.png
Individual electorate results
| Albany | Don McKinnon (National) | |
| Incumbent: Don McKinnon (National) | 2nd Place: B Mockridge (Labour) | |
| Ashburton | Rob Talbot (National) | |
| Incumbent: Rob Talbot (National) | 2nd Place: A J Srhoy (Labour) | |
| Auckland Central | Richard Prebble (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Richard Prebble (Labour) | 2nd Place: R D Reid (National) | |
| Avon | Mary Batchelor (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Mary Batchelor (Labour) | 2nd Place: C M McNicholl (National) | |
| Awarua | Rex Austin (National) | |
| Incumbent: Rex Austin (National) | 2nd Place: R G Fitzgerald (Labour) | |
| Bay of Islands | Neil Austin (National) | |
| Incumbent: Neil Austin (National) | 2nd Place: Leslie William Hunter (Social Credit) | |
| Birkenhead | Jim McLay (National) | |
| Incumbent: Jim McLay (National) | 2nd Place: H W Smith (Labour) | |
| Christchurch Central | Geoffrey Palmer (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Geoffrey Palmer (Labour) | 2nd Place: I G B Wilson (National) | |
| Clutha | Robin Grey (National) | |
| Incumbent: Robin Grey (National) | 2nd Place: Clive Matthewson (Labour) | |
| Dunedin Central | Brian MacDonell (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Brian MacDonell (Labour) | 2nd Place: N R King (National) | |
| Dunedin North | Stan Rodger (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Stan Rodger (Labour) | 2nd Place: C D Bleach (National) | |
| East Cape | Duncan MacIntyre (National) | |
| Incumbent: Duncan MacIntyre (National) | 2nd Place: P A Dey (Labour) | |
| East Coast Bays | Gary Knapp (Social Credit) | |
| Incumbent: Gary Knapp (Social Credit) | 2nd Place: Don Brash (National) | |
| Eastern Hutt | Trevor James Young (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Trevor James Young (Labour) | 2nd Place: A J Duthie (National) | |
| Eden | Anthony George Malcolm (National) | |
| Incumbent: Anthony George Malcolm (National) | 2nd Place: I K Scott (Labour) | |
| Fendalton | Philip Burdon (National) | |
| Incumbent: Eric Holland (National) | 2nd Place: D C Close (Labour) | |
| Gisborne | Bob Bell (National) | |
| Incumbent: Bob Bell (National) | 2nd Place: Alan Wallbank (Labour) | |
| Hamilton East | Ian Shearer (National) | |
| Incumbent: Ian Shearer (National) | 2nd Place: L J Welch (Labour) | |
| Hamilton West | Mike Minogue (National) | |
| Incumbent: Mike Minogue (National) | 2nd Place: P O McCaffrey (Labour) | |
| Hastings | David Butcher (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: David Butcher (Labour) | 2nd Place: H F W Kynoch (National) | |
| Hauraki | Graeme Lee (National) | |
| Incumbent: Leo Schultz (National) | 2nd Place: G O Miller (Labour) | |
| Hawke's Bay | Richard Harrison (National) | |
| Incumbent: Richard Harrison (National) | 2nd Place: Mike Cullen (Labour) | |
| Helensville | Dail Jones (National) | |
| Incumbent: Dail Jones (National) | 2nd Place: Jack Elder (Labour) | |
| Heretaunga | Bill Jeffries (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Ronald Leslie Bailey (Labour) | 2nd Place: R A J Palmer (National) | |
| Horowhenua | Geoff Thompson (National) | |
| Incumbent: Geoff Thompson (National) | 2nd Place: D G Page (Labour) | |
| Hunua | Colin Moyle (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Winston Peters (National) | 2nd Place: Winston Peters (National) | |
| Invercargill | Norm Jones (National) | |
| Incumbent: Norm Jones (National) | 2nd Place: David Soper (Labour) | |
| Island Bay | Frank O'Flynn (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Frank O'Flynn (Labour) | 2nd Place: D H Catley (National) | |
| Kaimai | Bruce Townshend (National) | |
| Incumbent: Bruce Townshend (National) | 2nd Place: D J F Conway (Social Credit) | |
| Kaipara | Peter Ian Wilkinson (National) | |
| Incumbent: Peter Ian Wilkinson (National) | 2nd Place: N C Connachy (Social Credit) | |
| Kapiti | Margaret Shields (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Barry Brill (National ) | 2nd Place: Barry Brill (National) | |
| King Country | Jim Bolger (National) | |
| Incumbent: Jim Bolger (National) | 2nd Place: D H Mason (Labour) | |
| Lyttelton | Ann Hercus (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Ann Hercus (Labour) | 2nd Place: Simon Stamers-Smith (National) | |
| Manawatu | Michael Cox (National) | |
| Incumbent: Michael Cox (National) | 2nd Place: D G Kessell (Labour) | |
| Mangere | David Lange (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: David Lange (Labour) | 2nd Place: J F Pettit (Social Credit) | |
| Manurewa | Roger Douglas (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Roger Douglas (Labour) | 2nd Place: K T Ralph (National) | |
| Marlborough | Doug Kidd (National) | |
| Incumbent: Doug Kidd (National) | 2nd Place: G E Macann (Labour) | |
| Matamata | John Luxton (National) | |
| Incumbent: John Luxton (National) | 2nd Place: D R Mawdsley (Social Credit) | |
| Miramar | Peter Neilson (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Bill Young (National) | 2nd Place: Bill Young (National) | |
| Mount Albert | Helen Clark (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: W W Freer (Labour) | 2nd Place: W W Moyes (National) | |
| Napier | Geoff Braybrooke (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Gordon Christie (Labour) | 2nd Place: K J Rose (National) | |
| Nelson | Philip Woolaston (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Mel Courtney (Labour) | 2nd Place: Mel Courtney (Independent) | |
| New Lynn | Jonathan Hunt (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Jonathan Hunt (Labour) | 2nd Place: R A Hanson (National) | |
| New Plymouth | Tony Friedlander (National) | |
| Incumbent: Tony Friedlander (National) | 2nd Place: D W Duggan (Labour) | |
| North Shore | George Gair (National) | |
| Incumbent: George Gair (National) | 2nd Place: P G Chambers (Labour) | |
| Ohariu | Hugh Templeton (National) | |
| Incumbent: Hugh Templeton (National) | 2nd Place: N R Ely (Labour) | |
| Onehunga | Fred Gerbic (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Fred Gerbic (Labour) | 2nd Place: Sue Wood (National) | |
| Otago | Warren Cooper (National) | |
| Incumbent: Warren Cooper (National) | 2nd Place: B O Griffiths (Labour) | |
| Otahuhu | Bob Tizard (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Bob Tizard (Labour) | 2nd Place: S McDowell (National) | |
| Pahiatua | John Falloon (National) | |
| Incumbent: John Falloon (National) | 2nd Place: Bill Sutton (Labour) | |
| Pakuranga | Pat Hunt (National) | |
| Incumbent: Pat Hunt (National) | 2nd Place: Neil Morrison (Social Credit) | |
| Palmerston North | Trevor De Cleene (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Joe Walding (Labour) | 2nd Place: Brian Elwood (National) | |
| Papakura | Merv Wellington (National) | |
| Incumbent: Merv Wellington (National) | 2nd Place: J S Cheeseman (Labour) | |
| Papanui | Mike Moore (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Mike Moore (Labour) | 2nd Place: B S Keeley (National) | |
| Papatoetoe | Eddie Isbey (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Eddie Isbey (Labour) | 2nd Place: R McKeen (National) | |
| Pencarrow | Fraser Colman (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Fraser Colman (Labour) | 2nd Place: Willard Amaru (National) | |
| Porirua | Gerry Wall (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Gerry Wall (Labour) | 2nd Place: E A Brittain (Social Credit) | |
| Rangiora | Derek Quigley (National) | |
| Incumbent: Derek Quigley (National) | 2nd Place: C G M Hayward (Labour) | |
| Rangiriri | Bill Birch (National) | |
| Incumbent: Bill Birch (National) | 2nd Place: R Hayward (Labour) | |
| Rangitikei | Bruce Beetham (Social Credit) | |
| Incumbent: Bruce Beetham (Social Credit) | 2nd Place: P M Bardwell (National) | |
| Remuera | David Highet (National) | |
| Incumbent: David Highet (National) | 2nd Place: Judith Tizard (Labour) | |
| Roskill | Phil Goff (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Arthur Faulkner (Labour) | 2nd Place: C A Parsons (National) | |
| Rotorua | Paul East (National) | |
| Incumbent: Paul East (National) | 2nd Place: Johnny Lepper (Labour) | |
| St. Albans | David Caygill (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: David Caygill (Labour) | 2nd Place: J D Baker (National) | |
| St. Kilda | Michael Cullen (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Bill Fraser (Labour) | 2nd Place: Stewart Clark (National) | |
| Selwyn | Ruth Richardson (National) | |
| Incumbent: Colin McLachlan (National) | 2nd Place: W E Woods (Labour) | |
| Sydenham | John Kirk (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: John Kirk (Labour) | 2nd Place: R R Bach (Social Credit) | |
| Tamaki | Robert Muldoon (National) | |
| Incumbent: Robert Muldoon (National) | 2nd Place: Richard Northey (Labour) | |
| Taranaki | David Thompson (National) | |
| Incumbent: David Thompson (National) | 2nd Place: B J Heilihy (Social Credit) | |
| Tarawera | Ian McLean (National) | |
| Incumbent: Ian McLean (National) | 2nd Place: N Scott (Labour) | |
| Tasman | Bill Rowling (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Bill Rowling (Labour) | 2nd Place: E L Krammer (National) | |
| Taupo | Roger McClay (National) | |
| Incumbent: J W Ridley (Labour) | 2nd Place: J W Ridley (Labour) | |
| Tauranga | Keith Allen (National) | |
| Incumbent: Keith Allen (National) | 2nd Place: T P Hills (Social Credit) | |
| Te Atatu | Michael Bassett (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Michael Bassett (Labour) | 2nd Place: S Noble (National) | |
| Timaru | Basil Arthur (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Basil Arthur (Labour) | 2nd Place: Jane Coughlan (National) | |
| Waikato | Sinon Upton (National) | |
| Incumbent: Simon Upton (National) | 2nd Place: N W Johnstone (Social Credit) | |
| Waipa | Marilyn Waring (National) | |
| Incumbent: Marilyn Waring (National) | 2nd Place: J I Kilbride (Social Credit) | |
| Wairarapa | Ben Couch (National) | |
| Incumbent: Ben Couch (National) | 2nd Place: T Gemmell (Labour) | |
| Waitakere | Ralph Maxwell (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Ralph Maxwell (Labour) | 2nd Place: M R Gummer (National) | |
| Waitaki | Jonathan Elworthy (National) | |
| Incumbent: Jonathan Elworthy (National) | 2nd Place: Jim Sutton (Labour) | |
| Waitotara | Venn Young (National) | |
| Incumbent: Venn Young (National) | 2nd Place: S K Gray (Social Credit) | |
| Wallace | Derek Angus (National) | |
| Incumbent: Derek Angus (National) | 2nd Place: O W Horton (Social Credit) | |
| Wanganui | Russell Marshall (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Russell Marshall (Labour) | 2nd Place: Terry Heffernan (Social Credit) | |
| Wellington Central | Fran Wilde (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Ken Comber (National) | 2nd Place: Ken Comber (National) | |
| West Coast | Kerry Burke (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Kerry Burke (Labour) | 2nd Place: D J Truman (National) | |
| Western Hutt | John Terris (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: John Terris (Labour) | 2nd Place: J W Tanner (National) | |
| Whangarei | John Banks (National) | |
| Incumbent: John Elliot (National) | 2nd Place: M E Penney (Labour) | |
| Yaldhurst | Mick Connelly (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Mick Connelly (Labour) | 2nd Place: M E Murray (National) | |
| Eastern Maori | Peter Tapsell (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Paraone Rewiti (Labour) | 2nd Place: A Tahana (Mana Motuhake) | |
| Northern Maori | Bruce Gregory (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Bruce Gregory (Labour) | 2nd Place: Matiu Rata (Mana Motuhake) | |
| Southern Maori | Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan (Labour) | 2nd Place: N A Reedy (Mana Motuhake) | |
| Western Maori | Koro Wetere (Labour) | |
| Incumbent: Koro Wetere (Labour) | 2nd Place: Eva Rickard (Mana Motuhake) | |
Summary of changes
- The seats of Hunua, Kapiti, Miramar and Wellington Central were won from incumbent National MPs by Labour challengers. The challengers in question were Colin Moyle, Margaret Shields, Peter Nielson and Fran Wilde, respectively. The defeated incumbents were Winston Peters, Barry Brill, Bill Young and Ken Comber, respectively.
- The seat of Taupo was won from the incumbent Labour MP by a National challenger. The challenger was Roger McClay and the defeated incumbent was J W Ridley.
- The seats of Heretaunga, Mt. Albert, Napier, Nelson, Palmerston North, Roskill, St. Kilda and Northern Maori passed from incumbent Labour MPs to new Labour MPs. In Nelson, the seat was retained by Labour despite the sitting Labour MP, Mel Courtney, breaking from the party and standing as an independent.
- The seats of Fendalton, Hauraki, Selwyn and Whangarei passed from incumbent National MPs to new National MPs. Two of these changes were the result of MPs retiring, but two (in Selwyn and Whangarei) were the result of controversial challenges to the re-selection of the incumbents. In Selwyn, Ruth Richardson successfully challenged the re-nomination of incumbent Colin McLachlan, and in Whangarei, John Banks successfully challenged the re-nomination of incumbent John Elliot.