East Coast Bays by-election 1980
Encyclopedia
The East Coast Bays by-election of 1980 was a by-election
during the 39th New Zealand Parliament
in the East Coast Bays
electorate. It was prompted by the resignation of Frank Gill
, a National Party
MP, to take up a position as New Zealand's ambassador
to the United States
. It resulted in the election of Gary Knapp
, the candidate of the Social Credit Party
. This result was unexpected, as minor parties rarely won seats in Parliament at the time (although such voting is more likely in a by-election). Knapp held the seat until the 1987 general election
, when he was defeated by National's Murray McCully
.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
during the 39th New Zealand Parliament
39th New Zealand Parliament
The 39th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand which began with the general election held on 25 November 1978, and finished with the general election held on 28 November 1981...
in the East Coast Bays
East Coast Bays (New Zealand electorate)
East Coast Bays is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was first formed in 1972 and has existed apart from a break lasting two parliamentary terms. The electorate is currently held by Murray McCully.-Population centres:...
electorate. It was prompted by the resignation of Frank Gill
Frank Gill (politician)
Thomas Francis "Frank" Gill was a New Zealand politician of the National Party, and an Air Commodore in the RNZAF.He represented the Waitemata electorate in Parliament from 1969 to 1972, and then the East Coast Bays electorate in Parliament from 1972 to 1980, when he resigned.He was a Cabinet...
, a National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
MP, to take up a position as New Zealand's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It resulted in the election of Gary Knapp
Gary Knapp
Garry Thomas Knapp was a New Zealand politician of the Social Credit Party.He became Member of Parliament for East Coast Bays in 1980 when he defeated National candidate Don Brash in the 1980 by-election in East Coast Bays caused by the resignation of the sitting National MP...
, the candidate of the Social Credit Party
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Social Credit Party was a political party which served as the country's "third party" from the 1950s through into the 1980s. The party held a number of seats in the New Zealand Parliament, although never more than two at a time...
. This result was unexpected, as minor parties rarely won seats in Parliament at the time (although such voting is more likely in a by-election). Knapp held the seat until the 1987 general election
New Zealand general election, 1987
The 1987 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 43rd sitting of the New Zealand Parliament. The governing New Zealand Labour Party, led by Prime Minister David Lange, was re-elected for a second term, although the Opposition National Party made gains...
, when he was defeated by National's Murray McCully
Murray McCully
Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
.