Otago (New Zealand electorate)

The 1977 electoral redistribution was the most overtly political since the Representation Commission had been established through an amendment to the Representation Act in 1886, initiated by Muldoon's National Government.{{sfn|McRobie |1989 |pp=8–9, 51, 119}} As part of the 1976 census, a large number of people failed to fill out an electoral re-registration card, and census staff had not been given the authority to insist on the card being completed. This had little practical effect for people on the general roll, but it transferred Māori to the general roll if the card was not handed in. Together with a northward shift of New Zealand's population, this resulted in five new electorates having to be created in the upper part of the North Island.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|p=119}} The electoral redistribution was very disruptive, and 22 electorates were abolished, while 27 electorates were newly created (including Otago) or re-established. These changes came into effect for the {{NZ election link|1978}}.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=115–120}}

When the electorate was first formed, it mostly replaced the {{NZ electorate link|Otago Central}} electorate, but also gained areas from the {{NZ electorate link|Clutha}} electorate (including Tapanui and Lawrence) and the coastal strip north of Dunedin from the {{NZ electorate link|Oamaru}} electorate (including Waikouaiti, Palmerston, and Hampden). The main towns that came from the Otago Central electorate were Queenstown, Alexandra, Cromwell, and Wānaka.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=117, 121}} In the 1983 electoral redistribution, the southern boundary moved north and some towns transferred to the Clutha electorate, including Tapanui, Lawrence, and Roxburgh. To compensate, some outer suburbs of Dunedin on the northern part of Otago Peninsula were gained from the {{NZ electorate link|Dunedin North}} electorate, including St Leonards and Ravensbourne.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=121–125}}

The electoral redistribution carried out for the 1996 election saw the electorate move further north to now include Twizel. The electoral redistribution carried out after the 2006 census saw Otago abolished, with its area split between the {{NZ electorate link|Waitaki}} and {{NZ electorate link|Clutha-Southland}} electorates.

The Otago electorate was first won by Warren Cooper of the National Party in 1978, who had been the representative for the Otago Central electorate since the {{NZ election link|1975}}.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=190}} When Cooper retired at the {{NZ election link|1996}}, he was succeeded by Gavan Herlihy.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2347052 |title=Tears flow as 16 MPs say goodbye |last=Young |first=Audrey |publisher=New Zealand Press Association |date=31 July 2002 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=12 July 2008}} Although Otago was a reasonably safe seat for the National Party, that party's poor showing at the 2002 election saw the Otago constituents elect a Labour MP, David Parker. Three years later in 2005, a swing to National in provincial New Zealand unseated Parker in favour of National's Jacqui Dean. When the Otago electorate was abolished in 2008, Dean transferred to the Waitaki electorate.{{cite web |title = Jacqui Dean |url= http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/mpp/mps/current/51MP2371/dean-jacqui |publisher = New Zealand Parliament |date= 19 November 2014 |access-date= 30 May 2015}}

Key

{{Party index link|New Zealand National Party}}

{{Party index link|New Zealand Labour Party}}

{{Party index link|ACT New Zealand}}

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Otago electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs' terms began and ended at general elections.

{{MMP election box begin

|title=2005 general election: Otago{{cite web| url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-37.html |title=Official Count Results -- Otago | publisher=Chief Electoral Office |date=1 October 2005 |access-date=30 May 2015}}

}}

{{MMP election box candidate win|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Jacqui Dean

|votes = 17,364

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 16,333

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box incumbent list

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = David Parker

|votes = 15,369

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 14,573

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|candidate = Jane Pearce

|votes = 1,596

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 2,251

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Gerry Eckhoff

|votes = 848

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 585

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = United Future

|candidate = Gerald Telford

|votes = 620

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 783

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Jim Anderton's Progressive Party

|candidate = Barry Silcock

|votes = 270

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 389

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit

|candidate = Richard Prosser

|votes = 133

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 53

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate

|party = Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Simon Guy

|votes = 88

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 36

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = New Zealand First

|party votes = 1,407

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Destiny New Zealand

|party votes = 132

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|party votes = 106

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Māori Party

|party votes = 63

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Christian Heritage Party of New Zealand

|party votes = 38

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|party votes = 26

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = 99 MP Party

|party votes = 11

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = Libertarianz

|party votes = 10

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = New Zealand Family Rights Protection Party

|party votes = 7

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = The Republic of New Zealand Party

|party votes = 6

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only

|party = One New Zealand Party

|party votes = 4

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote

|votes = 331

|party votes = 104

}}

{{MMP election box total vote

|votes = 36,288

|party votes = 36,813

}}

{{MMP election box majority gain

|winner = New Zealand National Party

|loser = New Zealand Labour Party

|votes = 1,995

|percent =

|change =

}}

{{MMP election box begin

|title=2002 general election: Otago{{cite web| url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2002/electorate-37.html |publisher=Chief Electoral Office |title=Official Count Results -- Otago | date=10 August 2002 |access-date=30 May 2015}}

}}

{{MMP election box candidate win|

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = David Parker

|votes = 14,113

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 12,943

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box incumbent lose|

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Gavan Herlihy

|votes = 13,429

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 8,472

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate list|

|party = ACT New Zealand

|candidate = Gerry Eckhoff

|votes = 1,294

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 1,919

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = United Future

|candidate = Allan Smellie

|votes = 1,115

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 1,779

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Christian Heritage Party of New Zealand

|candidate = Mike Ferguson

|votes = 544

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 431

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Jim Anderton's Progressive Party

|candidate = Hessel van Wieren

|votes = 438

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 528

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box candidate|

|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)

|candidate = Sam Huggard

|votes = 441

|percentage =

|change =

|party votes = 260

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

|party votes = 2,598

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = New Zealand First

|party votes = 2,127

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Outdoor Recreation New Zealand

|party votes = 635

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

|party votes = 232

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = One New Zealand Party

|party votes = 19

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = NMP (political party)

|party votes = 7

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box party only|

|party = Mana Māori Movement

|party votes = 4

|party percent =

|party change =

}}

{{MMP election box informal vote|

|votes = 489

|party votes = 92

}}

{{MMP election box total vote|

|votes = 31,374

|party votes = 31,954

}}

{{MMP election box majority gain|

|winner = New Zealand Labour Party

|loser = New Zealand National Party

|votes = 684

|percent =

|change =

}}

Refer to Candidates in the New Zealand general election 1999 by electorate#Otago for a list of candidates.

{{Election box begin | title=1987 general election: Otago}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Warren Cooper

|votes = 9,234

|percentage = 51.4

|change = +9.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Calvin Fisher

|votes = 7,232

|percentage = 40.5

|change = +4.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit

|candidate = W J Thompson

|votes = 1,279

|percentage = 7.1

|change = -7.8

}}

{{Election box candidate minor party

|color = {{party color|Imperial British Conservative Party}}

|party = Wizard Party

|candidate = Ms P Johnstone

|votes = 178

|percentage = 1.0

|change = +1.0

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,961

|percentage = 10.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes =

|percentage = 88.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 20,563

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1984 general election: Otago}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Warren Cooper

|votes = 8,884

|percentage = 42.3

|change = -7.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = David Polson

|votes = 7,509

|percentage = 35.7

|change = +10.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = W J Thompson

|votes = 2,124

|percentage = 14.9

|change = -9.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Party

|candidate = F H Chittock

|votes = 1,501

|percentage = 7.1

|change = +7.1

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,375

|percentage = 6.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes =

|percentage = 95.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 22,500

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1981 general election: Otago}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Warren Cooper

|votes = 9,970

|percentage = 49.8

|change = -0.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Bryan Griffiths

|votes = 5,077

|percentage = 25.4

|change = -4.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = M J Robertson

|votes = 4,951

|percentage = 24.8

|change = +7.0

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 4,893

|percentage = 24.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes =

|percentage = 91.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 21,938

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1978 general election: Otago}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Warren Cooper

|votes = 9,109

|percentage = 50.1

|change = -2.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = R J Rutherford

|votes = 5,387

|percentage = 29.7

|change = -10.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = H Te H Ruru

|votes = 3,326

|percentage = 17.8

|change = +13.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Values Party

|candidate = Mrs J Pitches

|votes = 430

|percentage = 2.4

|change = -0.3

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 3,722

|percentage = 20.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes =

|percentage = 73.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 24,668

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{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}}

{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}

• [http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/34BEF4DD-122C-4AD1-82FE-11706059DAE0/166/Otago1.pdf Electorate Profile] Parliamentary Library

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

Category:Historical electorates of New Zealand

Category:Politics of Otago

Category:1978 establishments in New Zealand

Category:2008 disestablishments in New Zealand