1984 New Zealand general election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1984 New Zealand general election
| country = New Zealand
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| party_colour =
| previous_election = 1981 New Zealand general election
| previous_year = 1981
| next_election = 1987 New Zealand general election
| next_year = 1987
| seats_for_election = 95 seats in the Parliament
| majority_seats = 48
| election_date = 14 July 1984
| elected_mps = members
| image1 = David Lange (cropped).jpg
| image1_size = 150x150px
| leader1 = David Lange
| leader_since1 = 3 February 1983
| party1 = New Zealand Labour Party
| leaders_seat1 = Mangere
| last_election1 = 43 seats, 39.01%
| seats1 = 56
| seat_change1 = {{increase}}13
| popular_vote1 = 829,154
| percentage1 = 42.98%
| swing1 = {{increase}}3.97%
| image2 = Muldoon 1978.jpg
| image2_size = 150x150px
| leader2 = Sir Robert Muldoon
| leader_since2 = 9 July 1974
| party2 = New Zealand National Party
| leaders_seat2 = Tamaki
| last_election2 = 47 seats, 38.77%
| seats2 = 37
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}}10
| popular_vote2 = 692,494
| percentage2 = 35.89%
| swing2 = {{decrease}}2.88%
| image4 = Bruce Craig Beetham (cropped).jpg|
| image4_size = 150x150px
| leader4 = Bruce Beetham
| leader_since4 = 14 May 1972
| party4 = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
| leaders_seat4 = Rangitikei (lost seat)
| last_election4 = 2 seats, 20.65%
| seats4 = 2
| seat_change4 = {{steady}} 0
| popular_vote4 = 147,162
| percentage4 = 7.63%
| swing4 = {{decrease}} 13.02%
| image5 = {{CSS image crop|Image = Bob Jones 1984.png|bSize = 150|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 15}}
| leader5 = Bob Jones
| leader_since5 = 21 August 1983
| party5 = New Zealand Party
| leaders_seat5 = None (contested Ohariu)
| last_election5 = Not yet founded
| seats5 = 0
| seat_change5 = {{steady}} 0
| popular_vote5 = 236,385
| percentage5 = 12.25%
| swing5 = {{increase}} 12.25%
| map_image = 1984 New Zealand general election.svg
| map_size = 350px
| map_caption = Results by electorate, shaded by winning margin
| title = Prime Minister
| posttitle = Subsequent Prime Minister
| before_election = Robert Muldoon
| before_party = New Zealand National Party
| after_election = David Lange
| after_party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the composition of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating the long-serving Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, of the National Party. It was also the last election in which the Social Credit Party won seats as an independent entity. The election was also the only one in which the New Zealand Party, a protest party, played any substantial role.
A snap election, Muldoon called for it a month prior. When doing so he was both live on television and visibly drunk, leading to the election being dubbed the "schnapps election".{{Cite web|title=Robert Muldoon {{!}} NZHistory, New Zealand history online|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/robert-muldoon|access-date=2021-07-24|website=nzhistory.govt.nz}}
Background
Before the election, the National Party governed with 47 seats, a small majority. The opposition Labour Party held 43 seats, and the Social Credit Party held two. Although National theoretically commanded a two-seat lead over the other parties, dissent within the National caucus (particularly by Marilyn Waring and Mike Minogue) resulted in serious problems for National leader Robert Muldoon. Muldoon felt that he could no longer maintain a majority until the end of the sitting year.{{Cite book |title=Two titans : Muldoon, Lange and leadership |last=Johansson |first=Jon |date=2005 |publisher=Dunmore Publishing|isbn=1877399019|location=Wellington, N.Z.|pages=72|oclc=63658626}}
The 1984 election was called when Waring told Muldoon that she would not support his government in the vote over an opposition-sponsored anti-nuclear bill. Muldoon, visibly drunk,{{cite web |title=Eyewitness News – Snap Election Setup|url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/eyewitness-news-snap-election-setup-1984|publisher=NZ On Screen|access-date=17 April 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_politics_story_skin/34506|title=Sips causing political slips|date=28 March 2001|work=Television New Zealand|access-date=30 October 2011}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLDve40cxlk YouTube – Drunk Muldoon calls the 1984 election] announced a snap election on national television on the night of 14 June. It is believed that Muldoon's behaviour was also the result of a number of personal factors, including, not least, tiredness and frustration, but alcohol and diabetes also, issues that had been plaguing him for some time.{{Cite book |title=Two titans : Muldoon, Lange and leadership |last=Johansson |first=Jon |authorlink=Jon Johansson |date=2005|publisher=Dunmore Publishing|isbn=1877399019|location=Wellington, N.Z.|pages=103|oclc=63658626}} Muldoon's drunkenness while making the announcement led to the election being nicknamed the "schnapps election".{{cite web |url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/robert-muldoon |title=Robert Muldoon |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=9 July 2010 |access-date=22 November 2010 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-night-prime-minister-rob-muldoon-gambled-on-a-snap-election-june-1984-remembered/BB65H6EGM4DZ4TLWXIVDPNS4FY/|title=The night Prime Minister Rob Muldoon gambled on a snap election - June 1984 remembered|author=Martin Johnston|date=2019-06-14|publisher=New Zealand Herald}}
There is debate over whether the election was necessary — Waring had not threatened to block confidence and supply, meaning that the government could still have continued on even if it had lost the anti-nuclear vote. Nevertheless, Muldoon appears to have wanted an election to reinforce his mandate (just as Sidney Holland sought and won a mandate to oppose striking dock-workers with the 1951 snap election).
Muldoon's government, which had been growing increasingly unpopular in its third term, was seen as rigid, inflexible, and increasingly unresponsive to public concerns. The Labour Party had actually gained a plurality of the vote in the previous two elections, but had narrowly missed out on getting a majority of the seats. Labour's primary campaign message was one of change — Muldoon's government, which employed wage and price controls in an attempt to "guide" the economy, was widely blamed for poor economic performance. Labour also campaigned to reduce government borrowing, and to enact nuclear-free policy.
The New Zealand Party, founded by property tycoon Bob Jones, was launched primarily to oppose the Muldoon government (although it did not support Labour). A right-wing liberal party, it promoted less government control over markets, in contrast to the paternalist and somewhat authoritarian policies of National, the other significant right-wing party.{{cite news |author=Shand, G. G. |title=Jones Party Aims to Occupy Political Gap |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=22 August 1983 |page=20 }}
=MPs retiring in 1984=
Seven National MPs and two Labour MPs intended to retire at the end of the 40th Parliament.
Electoral changes
The 1983 electoral redistribution was even more politically influenced than the previous one in 1977. The Labour Party believed it had been disadvantaged in 1977 and it was not to let this happen again. Every proposal was put to intense scrutiny, and this resulted in the electoral redistribution taking forty-one working days; the average length of the five previous redistributions was eight. As Social Credit had two MPs, the Labour Party nominee on the commission formally represented that party, which further increased tensions. The 1981 census had shown that the North Island had experienced further population growth, and three additional general seats were created, bringing the total number of electorates to 95.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=123f}} The South Island had, for the first time, experienced a population loss, but its number of general electorates was fixed at 25 since the 1967 electoral redistribution.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=111, 123}} More of the South Island population was moving to Christchurch, and two electorates were abolished ({{NZ electorate link|Dunedin Central}} and {{NZ electorate link|Papanui}}), while two electorates were recreated ({{NZ electorate link|Christchurch North}} and {{NZ electorate link|Dunedin West}}). In the North Island, six electorates were newly created ({{NZ electorate link|Glenfield}}, {{NZ electorate link|Otara}}, {{NZ electorate link|Panmure}}, {{NZ electorate link|Tongariro}}, {{NZ electorate link|Waikaremoana}}, and {{NZ electorate link|West Auckland}}), three electorates were recreated ({{NZ electorate link|Franklin}}, {{NZ electorate link|Raglan}}, and {{NZ electorate link|Rodney}}), and six electorates were abolished ({{NZ electorate link|Albany}}, {{NZ electorate link|Helensville}}, {{NZ electorate link|Hunua}}, {{NZ electorate link|Otahuhu}}, {{NZ electorate link|Rangiriri}}, and {{NZ electorate link|Taupo}}).{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=119–124}}
The election
The election was held on 14 July. There were 2,111,651 registered voters. Turnout was 93.7%, the highest turnout ever recorded in a New Zealand election. Most political scientists attribute the high turnout to a desire by voters for change.{{cite news |title=Election flashback: 'He's won on a nothing policy' – watch bitter Muldoon concede to Lange in 1984 |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/election-flashback-hes-won-nothing-policy-watch-bitter-muldoon-concede-lange-in-1984 |access-date=25 November 2019 |work=TVNZ |date=19 September 2017}}
Immediately after the election there was a constitutional crisis when Muldoon initially refused to follow the advice of the incoming Labour government and devalue the New Zealand dollar.{{cite news |last1=Roughan |first1=John |title=July 1984: When life in NZ turned upside down |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-roughan/news/article.cfm?a_id=5&objectid=3576219 |access-date=25 November 2019 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=2 August 2005 |language=en-NZ}}
Summary of results
The 1984 election saw the Labour Party win 56 of the 95 seats in parliament, a gain of 13. This was enough for it to hold an outright majority and form the fourth Labour government. The National Party won only 37 seats, a loss of ten. The New Zealand Party, despite winning 12.2% of the vote, failed to gain any seats at all. Social Credit managed to win two seats, the same number as it had held previously. The Values Party, an environmentalist group, gained fifth place, but no seats.
There were 95 seats being contested in the 1984 election, three more than in the previous parliament. All but two of these seats were won by one of the two major parties.
The Labour Party, previously in opposition, won 56 seats, an outright majority. Most of the seats won by Labour were in urban areas, following the party's typical pattern. Exceptions to this general trend include the eastern tip of the North Island and the western coast of the South Island. Labour's strongest regions were the Wellington area (where the party won every seat), as well as theWestern and Southern areas of Auckland where most of the poorest lived, Christchurch and Dunedin (cities in which it won most seats). Smaller cities such as Hamilton, Nelson, Napier, Hastings and Palmerston North were also won by Labour. As expected, Labour also won all four Māori seats, maintaining its traditional strength there.
The National Party, the incumbent government, was (as expected) strongest in rural areas. Most of the rural North Island was won by National, as were most of the rural areas on the South Island's eastern coast. In the larger cities, the party fared poorly, with the Northern and the Eastern affluent areas of Auckland and the Western areas of Christchurch being the only places that the party won seats. It was more successful in smaller cities, however, winning Rotorua, Tauranga, Invercargill, New Plymouth and Whangarei. It was placed second in two Māori electorates, and third in the other two.
The only minor party to win electorates was the Social Credit Party, which won East Coast Bays and Pakuranga (both in Auckland). It had held East Coast Bays before the election, but won Pakuranga for the first time. It did not manage to retain Rangitikei, which it had also held before the election. Social Credit candidates were placed second in six electorates, including Rangitikei.
The New Zealand Party, despite gaining more votes than Social Credit, did not win any seats. Some commentators have suggested that the party was not seeking to do so, and instead was merely acting as a spoiler for National. This impression has been backed up by comments by Bob Jones himself. The party was, however, placed second in the electorates of Remuera (an affluent part of Auckland), Kaimai, and Tauranga.
The Values Party, an environmentalist group, managed to win 0.2% of the vote, substantially below previous efforts. The party, which was in slow decline, would eventually vanish, but its ideals and goals would be reborn in the Green Party.
In two of the Māori electorates, the Mana Motuhake party gained second place, but the party did not gain a substantial number of votes elsewhere.
No independent candidates won seats, but one independent candidate, Mel Courtney, was placed second in the electorate of Nelson.
Detailed results
=Party results=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:right"
!colspan=7|center |
| rowspan=2 colspan=2 | Party
! rowspan=2 | Candidates ! colspan=2 | Votes ! rowspan=2 | Seats ! rowspan=2 | Change |
|---|
| Count
! Of total (%) |
| {{Party color cell|New Zealand Labour Party}}
| align=left | Labour | 95 | 829,154 | 42.98 | 56 | +13 |
| {{Party color cell|New Zealand National Party}}
| align=left | National | 95 | 692,494 | 35.90 | 37 | −10 |
| {{Party color cell|New Zealand Party}}
| align=left | NZ Party | 95 | 236,385 | 12.25 | 0 | 0 |
| {{Party color cell|Social Credit Party (New Zealand)}}
| align=left | Social Credit | 95 | 147,162 | 7.63 | 2 | 0 |
| {{party color cell|Mana Motuhake}}
| align=left|Mana Motuhake | 8 | 5,989 | 0.31 | 0 | 0 |
| {{Party color cell|Values Party}}
| align=left | Values | 29 | 3,871 | 0.20 | 0 | 0 |
| {{Party color cell|Independent politician}}
| align=left | Others | 57 | 20,588 | 1.07 | 0 | 0 |
| align=left colspan=2 | Total
| 466 | 1,929,201 | | 95 | +3 |
=Votes summary=
{{bar box
| title=Popular Vote
| titlebar=#ddd
| width=600px
| barwidth=410px
| bars=
{{bar percent|Labour|{{party color|New Zealand Labour Party}}|42.97}}
{{bar percent|National|{{party color|New Zealand National Party}}|35.89}}
{{bar percent|NZ Party|{{party color|New Zealand Party}}|12.25}}
{{bar percent|Social Credit|{{party color|Social Credit Party (New Zealand)}}|7.63}}
{{bar percent|Mana Motuhake|{{party color|Mana Motuhake}}|0.31}}
{{bar percent|Values|{{party color|Values Party}}|0.20}}
{{bar percent|Others|{{party color|Independent politician}}|1.07}}
}}
{{bar box
| title=Parliament seats
| titlebar=#ddd
| width=600px
| barwidth=410px
| bars=
{{bar percent|Labour|{{party color|New Zealand Labour Party}}|58.95}}
{{bar percent|National|{{party color|New Zealand National Party}}|38.95}}
{{bar percent|Social Credit|{{party color|Social Credit Party (New Zealand)}}|2.10}}
}}
=Electorate results=
The tables below shows the results of the 1984 general election:
Key
| {{Party index link|New Zealand National Party}}
|{{Party index link|New Zealand Labour Party}} |{{Party index link|New Zealand Party}} |
| {{Party index link|Social Credit Party (New Zealand)}}
|{{Party index link|Mana Motuhake}} |{{Party index link|Independent politician}} |
{{NZ electorate result start|Electorate results for the 1984 New Zealand general election.{{sfn|Norton|1988|pp=?}}
}}
|-
|colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | General electorates
|-
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Ashburton
|incumbent = Rob Talbot
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 472
|second = Geoff Stone
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Auckland Central
|incumbent = Richard Prebble
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 8,876
|second = Maureen Eardley-Wilmot
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Avon
|incumbent = Mary Batchelor
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 7,771
|second = Andrew Cowie
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Awarua
|incumbent = Rex Austin
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 384
|second = Barry Rait
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Bay of Islands
|incumbent = Neill Austin
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,298
|second = Les Hunter
|second-party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Birkenhead
|incumbent = Jim McLay
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 1,717
|second = John Course
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Christchurch Central
|incumbent = Geoffrey Palmer
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 8,508
|second = Tony Willy
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Christchurch North
|winner = Mike Moore
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 5,728
|second = David Dumergue
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Clutha
|incumbent = Robin Gray
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 4,522
|second = M J Sheppard
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Dunedin North
|incumbent = Stan Rodger
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 5,129
|second = Barbara Henderson
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Dunedin West
|winner = Clive Matthewson
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 6,011
|second = Derek Russell
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = East Cape
|incumbent = Duncan MacIntyre
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Anne Fraser
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 755
|second = Robyn J. Leeming{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=372}}
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = East Coast Bays
|incumbent = Gary Knapp
|incumbent-party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
|majority = 2,020
|second = Murray McCully
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Eastern Hutt
|incumbent = Trevor Young
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 6,005
|second = Joy McLauchlan
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Eden
|incumbent = Aussie Malcolm
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Richard Northey
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 2,306
|second = Aussie Malcolm
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Fendalton
|incumbent = Philip Burdon
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 1,457
|second = Murray Dobson
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Franklin
|winner = Bill Birch
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 5,210
|second = Roy Haywood
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Gisborne
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|incumbent = Bob Bell
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|winner = Allan Wallbank
|majority = 2,168
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
|second = Bob Bell
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Glenfield
|winner = Judy Keall
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 809
|second = David Schnauer
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Hamilton East
|incumbent = Ian Shearer
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Bill Dillon
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 1,100
|second = Ian Shearer
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Hamilton West
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|incumbent = Mike Minogue
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|winner = Trevor Mallard
|majority = 803
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
|second = Mike Minogue
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Hastings
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|incumbent = David Butcher
|majority = 4,273
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
|second = Peter Brown
}}
|-
| Hauraki
| style="background-color:{{party color|New Zealand National Party}};" |
| colspan=3 style="text-align:center;background-color:{{New Zealand National Party/meta/shading}};" | Graeme Lee
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,432
| style="background-color:{{party color|Social Credit Party (New Zealand)}};" |
| style="text-align:center;" | Alisdair Thompson
|-
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Hawke's Bay
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|incumbent = Richard Harrison
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|winner = Bill Sutton
|majority = 974
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
|second = Richard Harrison
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Heretaunga
|incumbent = Bill Jeffries
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,537
|second = Anna MacFarlane
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Horowhenua
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|incumbent = Geoff Thompson
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|winner = Annette King
|majority = 447
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
|second = Geoff Thompson
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Invercargill
|incumbent = Norman Jones
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 1,279
|second = Dougal Soper
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Island Bay
|incumbent = Frank O'Flynn
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 6,007
|second = John Kananghinis
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Kaimai
|incumbent = Bruce Townshend
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,696
|second = Leslie Dickson
|second-party = New Zealand Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Kaipara
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|incumbent = Peter Wilkinson
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Lockwood Smith
|majority = 5,564
|second-party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
|second = Bill Campbell
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Kapiti
|incumbent = Margaret Shields
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,514
|second = June Oakley
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = King Country
|incumbent = Jim Bolger
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 5,617
|second = James Edward Simons
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Lyttelton
|incumbent = Ann Hercus
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,963
|second = Doug Graham {{refn|group=nb|The candidate Doug Graham who contested the Lyttelton electorate for National is a different person from Doug Graham, who contested and won the Remuera seat.}}
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Manawatu
|incumbent = Michael Cox
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 420
|second = Dave Alton
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Mangere
|incumbent = David Lange
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 8,375
|second = Peter Saunders
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Manurewa
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|incumbent = Roger Douglas
|majority = 4,933
|second = Stuart Leenstra
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Marlborough
|incumbent = Doug Kidd
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 612
|second = George MacDonald
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Matamata
|incumbent = Jack Luxton
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 5,785
|second = Ross Clow
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Miramar
|incumbent = Peter Neilsen
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 3,499
|second = Don Crosbie
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Mt Albert
|incumbent = Helen Clark
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 6,207
|second = Rod Cavanagh
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Napier
|incumbent = Geoff Braybrooke
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 6,399
|second = M P Liddell
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Nelson
|incumbent = Philip Woollaston
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 3,678
|second = Mel Courtney
|second-party = Independent politician
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = New Lynn
|incumbent = Jonathan Hunt
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 6,340
|second = Ron Hanson
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = New Plymouth
|incumbent = Tony Friedlander
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 269
|second = Ida Gaskin
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = North Shore
|incumbent = George Gair
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,710
|second = Peter Harris
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Ohariu
|incumbent = Hugh Templeton
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Peter Dunne
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 1,371
|second = Hugh Templeton{{refn|group=nb|Bob Jones came third for the New Zealand Party in Ohariu}}
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Onehunga
|incumbent = Fred Gerbic
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,508
|second = Carol Freeman
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Otago
|incumbent = Warren Cooper
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 1,375
|second = David Polson
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Otara
|winner = Colin Moyle
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 6,519
|second = Taua Michael Tafua
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Pahiatua
|incumbent = John Falloon
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 5,478
|second = Malcolm Brazendale
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Pakuranga
|incumbent = Pat Hunt
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Neil Morrison
|winner-party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
|majority = 172
|second = Pat Hunt
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Palmerston North
|incumbent = Trevor de Cleene
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 3,033
|second = Colleen Singleton
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Panmure
|winner = Bob Tizard
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 5,979
|second = Carolyn Tedesco
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Papakura
|incumbent = Merv Wellington
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 1,447
|second = Lynn John
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Papatoetoe
|incumbent = Eddie Isbey
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 2,996
|second = Peter O'Brien
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Pencarrow
|incumbent = Fraser Colman
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 5,418
|second = Barry Cranston
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Porirua
|incumbent = Gerry Wall
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 5,418
|second = A L Gadsby
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Raglan
|winner = Simon Upton
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 1,976
|second = Linda Holmes
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Rangiora
|incumbent = Derek Quigley
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Jim Gerard
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 346
|second = Brian Tomlinson
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Rangitikei
|incumbent = Bruce Beetham
|incumbent-party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
|winner = Denis Marshall
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 504
|second = Bruce Beetham
|second-party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Remuera
|incumbent = Allan Highet
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Doug Graham
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,483
|second = Kenneth Sandford
|second-party = New Zealand Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Rodney
|winner = Don McKinnon
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,876
|second = Brian Dent
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Roskill
|incumbent = Phil Goff
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,208
|second = Chris Knowles
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Rotorua
|incumbent = Paul East
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 811
|second = Brian Arps
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = St Albans
|incumbent = David Caygill
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 6,172
|second = Ian Wilson
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = St Kilda
|incumbent = Michael Cullen
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 5,594
|second = Stewart Clark
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Selwyn
|incumbent = Ruth Richardson
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,829
|second = Charles Manning
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Sydenham
|incumbent = John Kirk{{refn|group=nb|In July 1983 Kirk said he would not stand in 1984: when Anderton was selected for {{NZ electorate link|Sydenham}}, Kirk (a Lange supporter) withdrew from the Labour caucus and was suspended by Labour, becoming an independent}}
|incumbent-party = Independent politician
|winner = Jim Anderton
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 7,255
|second = Pat Bonisch
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Tamaki
|incumbent = Robert Muldoon
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,758
|second = Robin Tulloch
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Taranaki
|incumbent = David Thomson
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Roger Maxwell
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 6,013
|second = Graeme Waters
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Tarawera
|incumbent = Ian McLean
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,377
|second = Malcolm Moore
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Tasman
|incumbent = Bill Rowling
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|winner = Ken Shirley
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 1,854
|second = Gerald Hunt
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Tauranga
|incumbent = Keith Allen
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Winston Peters
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 4,912
|second = David Parlour
|second-party = New Zealand Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Te Atatu
|incumbent = Michael Bassett
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,991
|second = Frank Diment
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Timaru
|incumbent = Basil Arthur
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 2,219
|second = Maurice McTigue
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Tongariro
|winner = Noel Scott
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 3,870
|second = Nelson Rangi
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = Waikaremoana
|winner = Roger McClay
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 1,737
|second = John Harré
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Waikato
|incumbent = Simon Upton
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Rob Storey
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 1,658
|second = Peter Cleave
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Waipa
|incumbent = Marilyn Waring
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|winner = Katherine O'Regan
|winner-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 5,667
|second = Anthony H. Allen
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Wairarapa
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|incumbent = Ben Couch
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|winner = Reg Boorman
|majority = 394
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
|second = Ben Couch
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Waitakere
|incumbent = Ralph Maxwell
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,474
|second = John McIntosh
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Waitaki
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|incumbent = Jonathan Elworthy
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|winner = Jim Sutton
|majority = 561
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
|second = Jonathan Elworthy
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Waitotara
|incumbent = Venn Young
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 3,314
|second = Stuart Perry
|second-party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Wallace
|incumbent = Derek Angus
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 5,663
|second = Calvin Fisher
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Wanganui
|incumbent = Russell Marshall
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 3,918
|second = Terry Heffernan
|second-party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Wellington Central
|incumbent = Fran Wilde
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,116
|second = Rosemary Young-Rouse
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result new
|electorate = West Auckland
|winner = Jack Elder
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 2,229
|second = Dail Jones
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = West Coast
|incumbent = Kerry Burke
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,293
|second = John Bateman
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Western Hutt
|incumbent = John Terris
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 4,348
|second = John Tanner
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Whangarei
|incumbent = John Banks
|incumbent-party = New Zealand National Party
|majority = 2,003
|second = Barbara Magner
|second-party = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result change
|electorate = Yaldhurst
|incumbent = Mick Connelly
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|winner = Margaret Austin
|winner-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 2,970
|second = Howard Joseph
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
|-
|colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | Māori electorates
|-
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Eastern Maori
|incumbent = Peter Tapsell
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 11,230
|second = Barry Kiwara
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Northern Maori
|incumbent = Bruce Gregory
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 7,688
|second = Matiu Rata
|second-party = Mana Motuhake
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Southern Maori
|incumbent = Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 10,495
|second = Amster Reedy
|second-party = Mana Motuhake
}}
{{NZ electorate result hold
|electorate = Western Maori
|incumbent = Koro Wētere
|incumbent-party = New Zealand Labour Party
|majority = 10,110
|second = Bill Katene
|second-party = New Zealand National Party
}}
|}
Table footnotes:
{{reflist|group=nb}}
=Summary of changes=
- Eleven new seats were created, of which seven (Christchurch North, Dunedin West, Glenfield, Otara, Panmure, Tongariro and West Auckland) were won by Labour, and four (Franklin, Raglan, Rodney and Waikaremoana) by National.
- A further ten seats were won by Labour from National: East Cape, Eden, Hamilton East, Hamilton West, Hawkes Bay, Horowhenua, Ohariu, Wairarapa and Waitaki. Social Credit lost Rangitikei to National. National also lost Pakuranga to Social Credit.
- Nine electorates had incumbent MPs retire and replaced them with MPs from the same party, six National and three Labour. Kaipara, Rangiora, Taranaki, Tauranga, Waikato and Waipa remained National, while Sydenham, Tasman and Yaldhurst remained Labour. In Rangiora, National MP Derek Quigley's decision not to stand for re-election followed serious clashes with Muldoon over economic policy, while in Sydenham, John Kirk had resigned from the Labour Party.
Major policy platforms
= Labour Party =
- Central aims
- "A society where people don't feel challenged to be nasty about everyone else" – David Lange. Drawn together to work for the interests of their country, a chance for everyone to have a chance to be equal, in education, society and jobs (regardless of gender or race). A programme of moderation and realism.
- State of economy
- To take stock of the overseas debt, focus on the unemployment rates. To target money into jobs which use New Zealand resources which turn our primary production into a higher value product. Using tourism as an employment generator. Assigning resources to small businesses and enterprises.
- Nuclear issues
- Opposed to nuclear testing. Keeping New Zealand defended without nuclear propelled vessels. Discuss with the allies and traders moving forward nuclear free,
- Prices, Incomes and industrial
- Industrial relations policy government boss and worker have to fix limits, bargaining, you cannot have country where prices can soar and wages are screwed down.
= National Party =
- Central aims
- To get New Zealand through difficult times with success.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-1984-leaders-debate-1984/comments|title=Comments {{!}} The 1984 Leaders Debate {{!}} Television |website=NZ On Screen|access-date=2018-05-13}} To deal with political issues sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. Match taxation to promises.
- State of economy
- Continue to tackle problems at their source, support for wage and price freezes. To adopt a business mindset, use overseas borrowing for huge projects to get net earnings.
- Nuclear issues
- Opposed to nuclear testing and weapons. Opposed to making them, using them or storing them. ANZUS nuclear propelled vessels are permitted to keep the ANZUS treaty.
- Prices, Incomes and industrial
- Wage and price freeze will work, it's what the public wants. Long term wage-fixing system, agreement with unions and employers.
= Further reading =
- Nuclear context: New Zealand nuclear-free zone#Historical background
- Economic context: Think Big
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite book |last = Gustafson |first = Barry |author-link = Barry Gustafson |title = The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party |year = 1986 |publisher = Reed Methuen |location = Auckland |isbn = 0-474-00177-6 }}
- {{cite book |title=Electoral Atlas of New Zealand |last=McRobie |first=Alan |year=1989 |publisher=GP Books |location=Wellington |isbn=0-477-01384-8}}
- {{cite book |last = Norton |first = Clifford |title = New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science |year = 1988 |publisher = Victoria University of Wellington |location = Wellington |isbn = 0-475-11200-8}}
- {{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |orig-year=First published in 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103}}
{{New Zealand elections}}