Otago Central

Otago Central or Central Otago was a parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1911 to 1919 as Otago Central; from 1928 to 1957 as Central Otago; and from 1957 to 1978 as Otago Central. It was replaced by the Otago electorate. The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament.

For the area of Otago, see Central Otago.

Population centres

In the 1911 electoral redistribution, the North Island gained a further seat from the South Island due to faster population growth. In addition, there were substantial population movements within each island, and significant changes resulted from this. Only four electorates were unaltered, five electorates were abolished, one former electorate was re-established, and four electorates, including Otago Central, were created for the first time.[1] The Otago Central electorate mostly covered areas that previously belonged to the Tuapeka and Taieri electorates, which were both abolished through the 1911 electoral redistribution.[2] Settlements that fell within the original Otago Central electorate included Roxburgh, Alexandra, and Ranfurly.[3]

In the 1918 electoral redistribution, the Otago Central electorate was abolished. Most of its area went to an enlarged Wakatipu electorate, but smaller areas went to the Clutha, Bruce, and Waitaki electorates.[4]

In the 1927 electoral redistribution, the North Island gained a further electorate from the South Island due to faster population growth. Five electorates were abolished, two former electorates, including Central Otago, were re-established, and three electorates were created for the first time.[5]

History

The first representative of the Otago Central electorate was Robert Scott, who was the incumbent from the Tuapeka electorate.[6]

Members of Parliament

The Otago Central electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament:[7]

Key

  Reform     United     National     Labour  

Election Winner
1911 election Robert Scott
1914 election
Abolished 1919, re-established as Central Otago 1928
1928 election William Bodkin
1931 election
1935 election
1938 election
1943 election
1946 election
1949 election
1951 election
1954 election John George
Renamed as Otago Central 1957
1957 election John George
1960 election
1963 election
1966 election
1969 election Murray Rose
1972 election Ian Quigley
1975 election Warren Cooper
(Electorate abolished in 1978; see Otago)

Election results

1975 election
1975 general election: Otago Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Warren Cooper 10,354 52.3 +10.1
Labour Ian Quigley 7,983 40.4 -10.7
Social Credit R S Moodie 910 4.6 +0.3
Values J R Perkins 542 2.7 +1.1
Majority 2,371 11.9
Turnout 87.9
Registered electors 22,572

1972 election
1972 general election: Otago Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian Quigley 8,544 51.1 +15.6
National Murray Rose 7,061 42.2 -0.8
Social Credit J Woodhall 721 4.3 -11.2
Values A J Klap 258 1.6 +1.6
New Democratic P J J McMullan 140 0.8 +0.8
Majority 1,483 8.9
Turnout 92.7
Registered electors 18,099

1969 election
1969 general election: Otago Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Murray Rose 6,345 42.8 -6.3
Labour B O Griffiths 5,259 35.5 +2.5
Social Credit P J J McMullan 2,297 15.5 -2.4
Country Party J R Perkins 793 5.4 +5.4
Democratic Labour Jamie Wedderspoon 118 0.8 +0.8
Majority 1,086 8.9
Turnout 89.4
Registered electors 16,709

1966 election
1966 general election: Otago Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National John George 7,060 49.1 -10.4
Labour B O Griffiths 4,755 33.0 -7.5
Social Credit G I Jones 2,571 17.9 +17.9
Majority 2,305 16.1
Turnout 88.0
Registered electors 16,460

1963 election
1963 general election: Otago Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National John George 8,388 59.5 -3.2
Labour Stan Rodger 5,713 40.5 +15.0
Majority 2,675 19.0
Turnout 88.5
Registered electors 16,141

1960 election
1960 general election: Otago Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National John George 7,320 62.7 +5.8
Labour Brian MacDonell 2,976 25.5 -9.6
Social Credit G I Jones 1,372 11.8 +3.6
Majority 4,344 37.2
Turnout 91.2
Registered electors 12,840

1957 election
1957 general election: Otago Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National John George 7,196 56.9 +8.9
Labour J H Rapson 4,408 34.9 +1.3
Social Credit J D F Sloan 1,033 8.2 -10.2
Majority 2,788 22.0
Turnout 94.0
Registered electors 13,489

1954 election
1954 general election: Central Otago
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National John George 6,895 48.0 -15.7
Labour P J Scott 4,821 33.6 -2.7
Social Credit A G Newland 2,638 18.4 +18.4
Majority 2,074 14.4
Turnout 90.2
Registered electors 16,064

1951 election
1951 general election: Central Otago
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National William Bodkin 8,429 63.7 -1.3
Labour T A Rodgers 4,809 36.3 +1.3
Majority 3,620 27.4
Turnout 87.9
Registered electors 15,109

1949 election
1949 general election: Central Otago
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National William Bodkin 8,457 65.0 +3.7
Labour T A Rodgers 4,551 35.0 -3.7
Majority 3,906 30.0
Turnout 91.6
Registered electors 14,297

1946 election
1949 general election: Central Otago
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National William Bodkin 7,874 61.3
Labour Claude Charles Capell 4,965 38.7
Majority 2,909 22.6
Turnout 92.4
Registered electors 13,894

1943 election

There were three candidates in 1943, with the election won by William Bodkin over James McIndoe Mackay.[8]

1931 election
1931 general election: Central Otago[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United William Bodkin 5,156 66.14
Independent Charles Todd 2,640 33.86
Majority 2,516 32.27
Informal votes 147 1.85
Turnout 7,943 82.10
Registered electors 9,675

1928 election
1928 general election: Central Otago[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United William Bodkin 4,684 53.75
Reform James Ritchie 4,031 46.25
Majority 653 7.49
Informal votes 58 0.66
Turnout 8,773 89.34
Registered electors 9,820

Notes
  1. McRobie 1989, pp. 71–76.
  2. McRobie 1989, pp. 73–77.
  3. McRobie 1989, p. 77.
  4. McRobie 1989, pp. 77–81.
  5. McRobie 1989, pp. 83–88.
  6. Wilson 1985, p. 233.
  7. Wilson 1985, pp. 260, 269.
  8. "Declaration of Result of Poll for the Electoral District of Central Otago". Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette. 13 October 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  9. The General Election, 1931. Government Printer. 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  10. Skinner, W. A. G. (1929). The General Election, 1928. Government Printer. p. 2. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  11. "Notice of nominations received and polling places appointed". Dunstan Times (3395). 5 November 1928. p. 6. Retrieved 17 February 2020.

References
  • 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.
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