Ohinemuri (New Zealand electorate)

In the 1896 electoral redistribution, rapid population growth in the North Island required the transfer of three seats from the South Island to the north. Four electorates that previously existed were re-established, and three electorates were established for the first time, including Ohinemuri.[1] The electorate was first used in the 1896 election.[2] The original area included the settlements of Paeroa, Waihi, and Te Aroha.[3]

In the 1902 electoral redistribution, Waihi was lost to the Bay of Plenty electorate.[4] In the 1907 electoral redistribution, Waihi came back to the Ohinemuri electorate, but Te Aroha was lost to the Tauranga electorate.[5] Ohinemuri was abolished in the 1927 electoral redistribution, and its area went to the Thames and Waikato electorates.

Alfred Cadman was the electorate's first representative. He had represented the area in Parliament since the 1881 election. Cadman retired from the Lower House for appointment to the New Zealand Legislative Council at the end of the parliamentary term in 1899.[6]

At the 1899 election, Jackson Palmer defeated Edward Moss for the Ohinemuri electorate.[7] Palmer had previously represented the Waitemata electorate north of Auckland.[8] At the 1902 election, Moss in turn defeated Palmer.[9] Moss was an Independent Liberal who bitterly opposed Premier Richard Seddon.[10] At the 1905 election, Moss was defeated by Hugh Poland of the Liberal Party.[11] Poland became an independent in 1919, and was defeated in the 1925 election by Albert Samuel.[12]

When the electorate was abolished in 1928,[2] Samuel transferred to the Thames electorate.[13]

• McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.