Dunedin Central

The previous electoral redistribution was undertaken in 1875 for the 1875–1876 election. In the six years since, New Zealand's European population had increased by 65%. In the 1881 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives increased the number of European representatives to 91 (up from 84 since the 1875–1876 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 Dunedin Central, and two electorates that had previously been abolished to be recreated. This necessitated a major disruption to existing boundaries.{{sfn|McRobie |1989 |pp=43–48}}{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=261–262}}

Thomas Bracken, who at the {{NZ election link|1879}} had unsuccessfully contested the {{NZ electorate link|City of Dunedin}} electorate, was the first representative.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=185}} At the {{NZ election link|1884}}, Bracken was defeated by James Benn Bradshaw, but Bradshaw died during the term (on 1 September 1886) and Bracken won the resulting by-election. He served for the rest of the term and then retired.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=185}}

The {{NZ election link|1887}} was contested by Edward Cargill and Frederick Fitchett,{{cite news|title=The General Elections: City Nominations |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ODT18870921.2.15 |access-date=9 June 2012|work=Otago Daily Times |date=21 September 1887|issue=7982|page=2}} and won by Fitchett.{{cite web |title=The General Election, 1887 |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1887-II.2.1.9.13 |publisher=National Library |access-date=25 February 2012 |page=3 |year=1887}} Fitchett served one term and then retired.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=196}} The electorate was abolished at the end of the term in 1890.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=261–262}}

When the electorate was recreated for the {{NZ election link|1905}}, the election was won by John A. Millar of the Liberal Party, who had represented various Dunedin electorates since {{NZ election link year|1893}}. At the next election in {{NZ election link year|1908}}, Millar successfully stood in the Dunedin West electorate.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=220}}

The Dunedin Central electorate was won by James Arnold in that year, who was also of the Liberal Party.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=180}} At the {{NZ election link|1911}}, Arnold was beaten by Charles Statham.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=180, 236}} Statham was a representative of the Reform Party, but became an Independent in 1919. Statham resigned after the {{NZ election link|1914}}, after irregularities in the counting of the vote turned a 12-vote lead for his competitor Jim Munro into a 12-vote loss. Munro, who represented the United Labour Party, and Statham contested the resulting {{By-election link|Dunedin Central|1915}}, which was narrowly won by Statham. He continued to represent the electorate until his retirement in 1935.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=236}}

Peter Neilson of the Labour Party won the {{NZ election link|1935}}. He served for three terms before he retired in 1946.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=223}} He was succeeded by Labour's Phil Connolly in the {{NZ election link|1946}}, who served six terms before he retired.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=190}} Brian MacDonell of the Labour Party won the {{NZ election link|1963}} and served seven terms until 1984, when the electorate was abolished.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=190, 261–262}} MacDonell then failed to get selected by Labour for the Dunedin West electorate and then stood as an Independent, but he was unsuccessful.{{citation needed|date=May 2012}}

The electorate was represented by nine Members of Parliament:{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=261–262}}

Key

{{Party index link|Independent politician}} {{Party index link|New Zealand Liberal Party}} {{Party index link|Liberal–Labour (New Zealand)}} {{Party index link|Reform Party (New Zealand)}} {{Party index link|New Zealand Labour Party}}

{{Election box begin | title=1981 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=213}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brian MacDonell

|votes = 9,662

|percentage = 53.81

|change = +3.60

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Nancy Ruth King

|votes = 5,493

|percentage = 30.59

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = D A Hood

|votes = 2,798

|percentage = 15.58

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 4,169

|percentage = 23.22

|change = +4.58

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 17,953

|percentage = 87.04

|change = +22.56

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 20,626

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1978 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=213}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brian MacDonell

|votes = 9,193

|percentage = 50.21

|change = +3.82

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Michael Ablett

|votes = 5,780

|percentage = 31.57

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = C Howard

|votes = 2,649

|percentage = 14.46

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Values Party

|candidate = Kathleen Dawson

|votes = 685

|percentage = 3.74

|change = -3.77

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,413

|percentage = 18.64

|change = +10.71

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 18,307

|percentage = 64.48

|change = -16.30

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 28,391

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1975 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=213}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brian MacDonell

|votes = 8,352

|percentage = 46.39

|change = -11.26

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Ian Bright

|votes = 6,924

|percentage = 38.46

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Values Party

|candidate = Kathleen Dawson

|votes = 1,353

|percentage = 7.51

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Zorina Vujcich

|votes = 1,327

|percentage = 7.37

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Socialist Unity Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = John Lindsay

|votes = 32

|percentage = 0.17

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = H Smith

|votes = 13

|percentage = 0.07

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,428

|percentage = 7.93

|change = -15.25

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 18,001

|percentage = 80.78

|change = -6.93

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 22,282

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1972 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=213}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brian MacDonell

|votes = 9,378

|percentage = 57.65

|change = +1.77

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Fred O'Neill

|votes = 5,607

|percentage = 34.46

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Colin Aberdeen

|votes = 1,058

|percentage = 6.50

|change = -2.35

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Democratic Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Christopher John Murphy

|votes = 119

|percentage = 0.73

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Socialist Unity Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Jack Marston

|votes = 105

|percentage = 0.64

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,771

|percentage = 23.18

|change = +0.11

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 16,267

|percentage = 87.71

|change = +0.35

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 18,545

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1969 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=212}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brian MacDonell

|votes = 9,565

|percentage = 55.88

|change = +7.31

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Margaret Mary Reichwein

|votes = 5,616

|percentage = 32.81

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Colin Aberdeen

|votes = 1,515

|percentage = 8.85

|change = -1.99

}}

{{Election box candidate minor party

|color = #ECC850

|party = Phoenix Party

|candidate = Gerald Williams

|votes = 418

|percentage = 2.44

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,949

|percentage = 23.07

|change = +15.07

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 17,114

|percentage = 88.06

|change = +1.54

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 19,433

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1966 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=212}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brian MacDonell

|votes = 7,557

|percentage = 48.57

|change = -0.07

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = John Farry

|votes = 6,312

|percentage = 40.57

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Colin Aberdeen

|votes = 1,687

|percentage = 10.84

|change = +1.30

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,245

|percentage = 8.00

|change = +0.55

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 15,556

|percentage = 86.52

|change = -2.68

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 17,979

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1963 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=212}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Brian MacDonell

|votes = 7,639

|percentage = 48.64

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = George Robert Thorn

|votes = 6,469

|percentage = 41.19

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Colin Aberdeen

|votes = 1,499

|percentage = 9.54

|change = +3.18

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Communist Party of New Zealand

|candidate = John Leslie Marston

|votes = 96

|percentage = 0.61

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,170

|percentage = 7.45

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 15,703

|percentage = 89.20

|change = -0.12

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 17,604

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1960 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=212}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Phil Connolly

|votes = 7,175

|percentage = 48.05

|change = -4.93

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Norman Scurr

|votes = 6,333

|percentage = 42.41

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Colin Aberdeen

|votes = 951

|percentage = 6.36

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Warrington Taylor

|votes = 471

|percentage = 3.15

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 842

|percentage = 5.63

|change = -5.80

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 14,930

|percentage = 89.32

|change = -2.79

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 16,715

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1957 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=212}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Phil Connolly

|votes = 8,241

|percentage = 52.98

|change = +10.32

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Marcus Anderson

|votes = 6,463

|percentage = 41.55

|change = -1.33

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Mary King

|votes = 850

|percentage = 5.46

|change = -11.65

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,778

|percentage = 11.43

|change = +9.00

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 15,554

|percentage = 92.11

|change = +0.52

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 16,885

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1954 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=212}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Phil Connolly

|votes = 5,784

|percentage = 42.66

|change = -9.24

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Marcus Anderson

|votes = 5,454

|percentage = 40.22

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Mary King

|votes = 2,320

|percentage = 17.11

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 330

|percentage = 2.43

|change = -0.63

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 13,558

|percentage = 91.59

|change = +1.34

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 14,802

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1951 general election: Dunedin Central{{sfn|Norton|1988|p=212}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Phil Connolly

|votes = 6,321

|percentage = 51.90

|change = -2.01

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Walter MacDougall

|votes = 5,858

|percentage = 48.09

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 373

|percentage = 3.06

|change = -4.76

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 12,179

|percentage = 90.25

|change = -3.17

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 13,494

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1949 general election: Dunedin Central{{cite web |title=The General Election, 1949 |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1950-I.2.3.2.43 |publisher=National Library |access-date=3 January 2014 |pages=1–5, 8 |year=1950}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Phil Connolly

|votes = 6,813

|percentage = 53.91

|change = -3.62

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = David Murdoch

|votes = 5,824

|percentage = 46.08

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 989

|percentage = 7.82

|change = -7.25

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 12,637

|percentage = 93.42

|change = +0.32

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 13,527

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1946 general election: Dunedin Central{{cite web |title=The General Election, 1946 |url= http://www.atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1947-I.2.4.2.38 |publisher=National Library |access-date=1 January 2014 |pages=1–11, 14 |year=1947}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Phil Connolly

|votes = 7,633

|percentage = 57.53

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Stuart Sidey

|votes = 5,633

|percentage = 42.46

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 2,000

|percentage = 15.07

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 13,266

|percentage = 93.56

|change = +3.06

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 14,179

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1943 general election: Dunedin Central

{{cite web |title = The General Election, 1943 |url = https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1944-I.2.2.5.37 |publisher = National Library |access-date = 28 March 2014 |page = 11 |year = 1944}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Peter Neilson

|votes = 7,853

|percentage = 54.54

|change = +8.25

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Leonard James Tobin Ireland

|votes = 5,698

|percentage = 39.58

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = A P Peat

|votes = 686

|percentage = 4.76

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 159

|percentage = 1.10

|change = +0.36

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 2,155

|percentage = 14.96

|change = -11.37

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 14,396

|percentage = 90.50

|change = -2.64

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 15,907

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1938 general election: Dunedin Central{{cite web |title = The General Election, 1938 |url = https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1939-I.2.3.2.36 |publisher = National Library |access-date = 8 February 2012 |pages = 1–6 |year = 1939}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Peter Neilson

|votes = 9,094

|percentage = 62.79

|change = +7.40

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = William John Meade

|votes = 5,280

|percentage = 36.45

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 108

|percentage = 0.74

|change = +0.13

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,814

|percentage = 26.33

|change = +11.67

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 14,482

|percentage = 93.14

|change = +2.21

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 15,548

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1935 general election: Dunedin Central{{cite book |title=The General Election, 1935 |year=1936 |publisher=National Library |pages = 1–35 |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1936-I.2.3.2.33&srpos=167 |access-date=3 August 2013}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Peter Neilson

|votes = 6,529

|percentage = 55.39

|change = +6.64

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Reform Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Donald Cameron

|votes = 4,800

|percentage = 40.72

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Sidney Wren

|votes = 457

|percentage = 3.87

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 73

|percentage = 0.61

|change = +0.41

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,729

|percentage = 14.66

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 11,786

|percentage = 90.93

|change = +5.14

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 12,961

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1931 general election: Dunedin Central{{cite book |title=The General Election, 1931 |year=1932 |publisher=Government Printer |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1932-I-II.2.3.2.31 |page=2 |access-date=2 November 2014}}{{cite news |title=Elections Recounts |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19311212.2.81 |access-date=29 January 2014 |work=The Evening Post |date=12 December 1931 |volume=CXII |issue=142 |page=10}}{{cite news |title=Prospects in Otago |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19311123.2.118 |access-date=13 November 2014 |work=The New Zealand Herald |volume=LXVIII |issue=21037 |date=23 November 1931 |page=11}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Charles Statham

|votes = 5,389

|percentage = 51.25

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Peter Neilson

|votes = 5,127

|percentage = 48.75

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 262

|percentage = 2.49

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 21

|percentage = 0.20

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 10,537

|percentage = 85.79

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 12,283

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1928 general election: Dunedin Central{{cite book |last=Skinner | first=W. A. G. |title=The General Election, 1928 |year=1929 |publisher=Government Printer |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1929-I.2.3.2.37 |page=2 |access-date=17 February 2020}}{{cite news |title=Nominations |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19281027.2.36?end_date=19-12-1928&items_per_page=100&page=2&query=Robinson |access-date=17 February 2020 |work=Otago Daily Times |issue=20550 |date=27 October 1928 |page=9}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Charles Statham

|votes = 6,022

|percentage = 58.62

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = John Robinson

|votes = 4,251

|percentage = 41.38

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,771

|percentage = 17.24

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 117

|percentage = 1.13

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 10,390

|percentage = 88.11

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 11,792

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Dunedin Central by-election, 1915}}

{{Election box begin | title=1914 general election: Dunedin Central

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Reform Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Charles Statham

|votes = 3,744

|percentage = 50.08

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = United Labour Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Jim Munro

|votes = 3,732

|percentage = 49.91

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 199

|percentage = 2.66

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 12

|percentage = 0.16

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 7,476

|percentage = 81.51

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 9,171

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{1886 Dunedin Central by-election}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{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= 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}}
• {{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 }}

{{Historic electorates of New Zealand | state=collapsed}}

Category:Historical electorates of New Zealand

Category:Politics of Dunedin

Category:1881 establishments in New Zealand

Category:1905 establishments in New Zealand

Category:1890 disestablishments in New Zealand

Category:1984 disestablishments in New Zealand