Taumarunui (New Zealand electorate)

In the 1907 electoral redistribution, a major change that had to be allowed for was a reduction of the tolerance to ±750 to those electorates where the country quota applied. The North Island had once again a higher population growth than the South Island, and three seats were transferred from south to north. In the resulting boundary distribution, every existing electorate was affected, and three electorates were established for the first time, including the Taumarunui electorate. These changes took effect with the 1908 election.[1]

The initial area covered by the Taumarunui electorate was quite large. Settlements that were initially included were Taumarunui, Turangi, Ohakune, Waiouru, Pipiriki, Raetihi, Ohura, Waitara, Mokau, Awakino, Kawhia, Otorohanga, and Te Kuiti.[2] In the 1911 electoral redistribution, large areas went to adjacent electorates, and Ohakune, Waiouru, Pipiriki, and Raetihi went to the Waimarino electorate, while Kawhia went to the Waikato electorate.[3]

In the 1918 electoral redistribution, the Taumarunui electorate was abolished, and the vast majority of its area went to the Waitomo and Waimarino electorates.[4]

William Thomas Jennings of the Liberal Party was the first representative from 1908 to 1911.[5] In the 1911 election, Jennings was defeated by the Reform Party member Charles Wilson.[6] Jennings had won the electorate back in 1914, but on 14 May 1915, the election was declared void.[6] Jennings won the electorate in the subsequent 1915 by-election and held it to 1919.[5]

• 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.