Waitomo (New Zealand electorate)

In the 1918 electoral redistribution, the North Island gained a further three electorates from the South Island due to faster population growth. Only two existing electorates were unaltered, five electorates were abolished, two former electorate were re-established, and three electorates, including Waitomo, were created for the first time.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=75–80}} The {{NZ electorate link|Taumarunui}} electorate was abolished through the 1918 electoral redistribution, and the vast majority of the Waitomo electorate's area had previously been in the Taumarunui electorate.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|pp=74, 78}} Settlements that fell within the initial area of the Waitomo electorate were Ōtorohanga, Te Kūiti, Ōhura, Awakino, Mōkau, and Waitara.{{sfn|McRobie|1989|p=78}}

The Waitomo electorate was first established for the {{NZ election link|1919}}.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=}} The first representative was William Thomas Jennings of the Liberal Party.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=}} John Rolleston of the Reform Party defeated the incumbent by 3447 to 3441 votes, a majority of only six votes.{{cite news |title=Official Counts |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19221218.2.85.3 |access-date=17 December 2011 |work=The Evening Post |date=18 December 1922 |volume=CIV |issue=146 |page=8}} Rolleston in turn was defeated in {{NZ election link year|1928}} by Walter Broadfoot of the United Party.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=185}} Broadfoot joined the National Party in 1936 when it formed through the amalgamation of the United and Reform Parties.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=185}} He remained the electorate's representative until the {{NZ election link|1954}}, when he retired.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=185}}

Broadfoot was succeeded by David Seath of the National Party, who represented the electorate until the {{NZ election link|1972}}, when he retired.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=233}} In the same year, the Waitomo electorate was abolished.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=}}

The Waitomo electorate was represented by four Members of Parliament:{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=275}}

Key

{{Election box begin | title=1935 general election: Waitomo{{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 = United Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Walter Broadfoot

|votes = 4,521

|percentage = 45.86

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Jack Jones

|votes = 2,995

|percentage = 30.38

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Country Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = J H Penniket

|votes = 2,341

|percentage = 23.74

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 65

|percentage = 0.65

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,526

|percentage = 15.49

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 9,857

|percentage = 91.08

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 10,822

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1928 general election: Waitomo{{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=5 |access-date=27 February 2020}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = United Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = Walter Broadfoot

|votes = 3,797

|percentage = 48.99

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Reform Party (New Zealand)

|candidate = John Rolleston

|votes = 3,265

|percentage = 42.13

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|candidate = Charles Croall

|votes = 688

|percentage = 8.88

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 532

|percentage = 6.86

|change =

}}

{{Election box informal

|votes = 52

|percentage = 0.67

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 7,802

|percentage = 87.28

|change =

}}

{{Election box Registered electors

|reg. electors = 8,939

}}

{{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}}

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

Category:Historical electorates of New Zealand

Category:1919 establishments in New Zealand

Category:1972 disestablishments in New Zealand