Westland (New Zealand electorate)

In the 1865 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives focussed its review of electorates to South Island electorates only, as the Central Otago Gold Rush had caused significant population growth, and a redistribution of the existing population. Fifteen additional South Island electorates were created, including Westland, and the number of Members of Parliament was increased by 13 to 70.[1]

In December 1887, the House of Representatives voted to reduce its membership from general electorates from 91 to 70. The 1890 electoral redistribution used the same 1886 census data used for the 1887 electoral redistribution. In addition, three-member electorates were introduced in the four main centres. This resulted in a major restructuring of electorates, and Westland was one of eight electorates to be re-created for the 1890 election.[2]

The electorate was formed for the 1866 election. William Sefton Moorhouse stood in the electorate and was returned 16 March 1866 in favour of William Shaw.[3][4]

The general election was held on 22 February 1866 in the Mount Herbert electorate, in which Moorhouse was returned unopposed.[3][5] Having been elected in two electorates, Moorhouse chose to represent Westland.[6] Moorhouse resigned on 20 February 1868.[3]

Joseph Grimmond, who had since 1887 represented the Hokitika electorate, contested the Westland electorate in the 1890 general election against Richard Seddon, with Seddon being successful.[7] In the 1893 election, Seddon was returned unopposed.[8] In the 1896 election, Seddon was again opposed by Grimmond but remained successful.[9] Seddon held the electorate until his death in 1906.[10] He was succeeded by his son Tom, who in turn represented the electorate until his defeat in the 1925 election by Labour's James O'Brien.[11]

Members of Parliament

Three Westland Members of Parliament (L to R) Jim Kent, Tom Seddon and Paddy Blanchfield

The electorate was represented by seven Members of Parliament:[12]

Key

  Independent     Liberal     Labour  

Election	Winner
1866 election		William Sefton Moorhouse
(Electorate abolished 1868–1890, see Westland South, Westland North, Waimea, and Westland Boroughs)
1890 election		Richard Seddon
1893 election
1896 election
1899 election
1902 election
1905 election
1906 by-election		Tom Seddon
1908 election
1911 election
1914 election
1919 election
1922 election		James O'Brien
1925 election		Tom Seddon (2nd period)
1928 election		James O'Brien (2nd period)
1931 election
1935 election
1938 election
1943 election
1946 election
1947 by-election		Jim Kent
1949 election
1951 election
1954 election
1957 election
1960 election		Paddy Blanchfield
1963 election
1966 election
1969 election
(Electorate abolished in 1972, see West Coast and Tasman)

• McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
• Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand parliamentary election results, 1946–1987. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington Department of Political Science. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
• Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.