Rakaia (New Zealand electorate)

Since the {{NZ election link|1969}}, the number of electorates in the South Island was fixed at 25, with continued faster population growth in the North Island leading to an increase in the number of general electorates. There were 84 electorates for the 1969 election,{{sfn|McRobie|1989|p=111}} and the 1972 electoral redistribution saw three additional general seats created for the North Island, bringing the total number of electorates to 87.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|p=115}} Together with increased urbanisation in Christchurch and Nelson, the changes proved very disruptive to existing electorates. {{sfn|McRobie|1989|p=115}} In the South Island, three electorates were abolished, and three electorates were newly created (including Rakaia).{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=112, 116}} In the North Island, five electorates were abolished, two electorates were recreated, and six electorates were newly created.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=111, 115}}

The electorate included the following population centres:

• Ashburton
• Darfield
• Leeston
• Lincoln
• Methven
• Rakaia
• Rolleston
• Southbridge
• West Melton

The Rakaia seat previously existed from 1972 to 1978, when it was held by Colin McLachlan of the National Party, who previously and subsequently held the Selwyn seat. It was recreated in 1993 as a replacement for Ashburton.

Due to boundary changes for the 2008 general election, the Rakaia seat ceased to exist. Its population centres were redistributed among the new seats of Rangitata and Selwyn.

In the 2008 election, Selwyn was expected to be a safe National seat while {{NZ electorate link|Rangitata}} was considered vulnerable to capture by Labour due to the presence of the city of Timaru. While Amy Adams won Selwyn for National as expected, Rangitata was taken by National's Jo Goodhew.

Key

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

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

{{Election box begin | title=1975 general election: Rakaia{{sfn|Norton|1988|pp=325}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Colin McLachlan

|votes = 10,532

|percentage = 60.0

|change = +5.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Graeme Lowrie

|votes = 5,295

|percentage = 30.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = John Bridson Brinsdon

|votes = 988

|percentage = 5.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Values Party

|candidate = Monique Brocx

|votes = 743

|percentage = 4.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 5,237

|percentage = 29.8

|change = +16.3

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 20,938

|percentage = 84.1

|change = -5.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1972 general election: Rakaia{{sfn|Norton|1988|pp=325}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand National Party

|candidate = Colin McLachlan

|votes = 8,557

|percentage = 54.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Alex Clark

|votes = 6,424

|percentage = 40.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Richard Hooper

|votes = 754

|percentage = 4.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Democratic Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Edmund Victor Wall

|votes = 90

|percentage = 0.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 2,133

|percentage = 13.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 17,282

|percentage = 89.3

|change =

}}

{{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 ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc=154283103 |page=266}}
• {{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 }}

• [http://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/00PLSocEP05441/cad73f8038f0efcc39f61f1a2bf68dd5ebf7e339 Electorate Profile] Parliamentary Library

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

Category:Historical electorates of New Zealand

Category:1972 establishments in New Zealand

Category:1978 disestablishments in New Zealand

Category:1993 establishments in New Zealand

Category:2008 disestablishments in New Zealand