Waipareira

Waipareira was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate that existed for one parliamentary term from 1996 to 1999. Located in West Auckland, it was held by Brian Neeson of the New Zealand National Party, who had narrowly beaten Labour's Chris Carter.

Population centres

The 1996 election was notable for the significant change of electorate boundaries, based on the provisions of the Electoral Act 1993.[1] Because of the introduction of the mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system, the number of electorates had to be reduced, leading to significant changes. More than half of the electorates contested in 1996 were newly constituted, and most of the remainder had seen significant boundary changes. In total, 73 electorates were abolished, 29 electorates were newly created (including Waipareira), and 10 electorates were recreated, giving a net loss of 34 electorates.

The electorate includes the following population centres:

History

The electorate was established in the first mixed-member proportional (MMP) election in 1996. The election was won by Brian Neeson, who had represented the Te Atatu (1990–1993) and Waitakere (1993–1996) electorates previously.[2] Neeson narrowly defeated Labour's Chris Carter, who became an MP three years later in 1999.[3]

The race was closely contested with three incumbent MPs (Neeson, Carter and Jack Elder). Neeson had a 141 vote lead after the preliminary count but Carter said he was hopeful of turning around his defeat as there were 4,000 special votes still to be counted.[4] Ultimately Neeson held the electorate by the slightly lower margin of 107. Carter was subsequently employed as an electorate secretary for Labour list MP Jonathan Hunt at his electorate office in Henderson.[5] Hunt's electorate office serviced the constituents of both Waipareira and neighbouring Waitakere.[6]

The electorate was abolished after one parliamentary term for the 1999 election. Neeson transferred back to the Waitakere electorate and represented it for another term.[2]

Members of Parliament

Key

  National   Alliance   NZ First

Election Winner
1996 election Brian Neeson
(Electorate abolished 1999, see Te Atatū)

List MPs

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Waipareira electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Election Winner
1996 election Laila Harré
Jack Elder

Election results

1996 election

1996 general election: Waipareira[7][8][9]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Brian Neeson 12,123 35.56 11,837 34.72
Labour Chris Carter 12,016 35.24 10,208 29.94
NZ First Jack Elder 4,920 14.43 3,791 11.12
Alliance Laila Harré 3,818 11.20 2,932 8.60
ACT Chris Fidoe 680 1.99 1,895 5.55
Natural Law Judy Boock 146 0.42 155 0.45
Republican Akesa Tagaloa-Faleiva 40 0.11
Christian Coalition   2,029 5.95
Legalise Cannabis   501 1.46
United NZ   122 0.35
McGillicuddy Serious   91 0.27
Progressive Green   90 0.26
Ethnic Minority Party 88 0.25
Animals First   59 0.17
Superannuitants & Youth   37 0.10
Green Society   24 0.07
Advance New Zealand 20 0.05
Mana Māori   9 0.03
Libertarianz   7 0.02
Asia Pacific United 6 0.01
Conservatives   5 0.01
Te Tawharau 1 0.01
Informal votes 345 181
Total valid votes 34,088 34,088
National win new seat Majority 107 0.31

References

  1. ^ Electoral Act 1993 (Act 87). 17 August 1993. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b Orsman, Bernard (5 July 2002). "Key electorate: Helensville". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Judge me on my deeds, gay minister asks". The New Zealand Herald. 12 August 2002. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  4. ^ Boyd, Sarah (15 October 1996). "Labour MPs counting on special votes". The Evening Post. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Carter returns to payroll as Hunt's secretary". The Dominion. 14 November 1996. p. 2.
  6. ^ Bain, Helen (26 November 1996). "Labour list MPs to set up shop in electorates". The Dominion. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Electorate Candidate and Party Votes Recorded at Each Polling Place - Waipareira, 1996" (PDF). Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Part III - Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Part III - Party Lists of unsuccessful Registered Parties" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.