Geraldine was a former parliamentary electorate

New Zealand electorates

An electorate is a voting district for elections to the Parliament of New Zealand. In informal discussion, electorates are often called seats. The most formal description, electoral district, is rarely seen outside of electoral legislation. Before 1996, all Members of Parliament were directly...

 in the South Canterbury

Canterbury, New Zealand

The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...

 region of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 that existed three times from 1875 to 1911. It was represented by six Members of Parliament.

History

The electorate was formed for the 1875 election, which was held on 27 December. Edward Wakefield

Edward Wakefield (politician)

Edward Wakefield was the son of Felix Wakefield, one of Edward Gibbon Wakefield’s younger brothers. Edward was born in Launceston, Tasmania, brought up in New Zealand, and educated in France and at King's College, London.He married Agnes Hall....

, John Hayhurst and Alexander Wilson contested the election, and gained 102, 102 and 44 votes, respectively. The returning officer thus used his casting vote and returned Wakefield as elected. In the 1881 election

New Zealand general election, 1881

The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December...

, Wakefield was defeated by William Postlethwaite

William Postlethwaite

William Postlethwaite was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.He represented the Geraldine electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he retired. Wilson classed him as a Reform Party Member of Parliament, although he was an MP in the 1880s before political parties...

.

The electorate was abolished for the 1887 election

New Zealand general election, 1887

The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....

 and the town of Geraldine was covered by the Rangitata

Rangitata

Rangitata is an electorate in the South Island of New Zealand. It first existed for two parliamentary terms in the late 19ths century and was re-established for the 2008 general election. It largely replaces the Aoraki electorate, but includes parts of the Rakaia electorate as well...

 electorate.

Geraldine was re-established for the 1890 election

New Zealand general election, 1890

The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...

, and replaced again for the 1893 election

New Zealand general election, 1893

The New Zealand general election of 1893 was held on Tuesday, 28 November in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 12th session of the New Zealand Parliament...

; this time by the Pareora

Pareora (New Zealand electorate)

Pareora was a former parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand for one electoral term in the 19th century.-History:Pareora existed from 1893 to 1896, when it temporarily replaced the Geraldine electorate....

 electorate. At the 1893 general election

New Zealand general election, 1893

The New Zealand general election of 1893 was held on Tuesday, 28 November in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 12th session of the New Zealand Parliament...

 Frederick Flatman

Frederick Flatman

Frederick Robert Flatman was a New Zealand Member of Parliament of the Liberal Party for the Pareora and Geraldine electorates...

 won Pareora from Arthur Rhodes

Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes

Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes OBE was a New Zealand Member of Parliament and Mayor of Christchurch.-Life before politics:Rhodes was a lawyer in Christchurch...

 the former Geraldine MP.

Geraldine was established for the third time for the 1896 election

New Zealand general election, 1896

The New Zealand general election of 1896 was held on Wednesday, 4 December in the general electorates, and on Thursday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 13th session of the New Zealand Parliament...

. It existed until 1911.

Election results

Geraldine was represented by six MPs:

First period (1875–87)
Election	Winner
1875 election		Edward Wakefield Edward Wakefield (politician) Edward Wakefield was the son of Felix Wakefield, one of Edward Gibbon Wakefield’s younger brothers. Edward was born in Launceston, Tasmania, brought up in New Zealand, and educated in France and at King's College, London.He married Agnes Hall....
1879 election New Zealand general election, 1879 The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between 28 August and 15 September to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 1 and 8 September. A total number of 82,271 voters turned out to vote.The election came about when George...
1881 election New Zealand general election, 1881 The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December...		William Postlethwaite William Postlethwaite William Postlethwaite was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.He represented the Geraldine electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he retired. Wilson classed him as a Reform Party Member of Parliament, although he was an MP in the 1880s before political parties...
1884 election New Zealand general election, 1884 The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:...		William Rolleston William Rolleston William Rolleston was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.-Early life:...
Second period (1890–93)
Election	Winner
1890 election New Zealand general election, 1890 The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...		Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes OBE was a New Zealand Member of Parliament and Mayor of Christchurch.-Life before politics:Rhodes was a lawyer in Christchurch...
Third period (1896–1911)
Election	Winner
1896 election New Zealand general election, 1896 The New Zealand general election of 1896 was held on Wednesday, 4 December in the general electorates, and on Thursday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 13th session of the New Zealand Parliament...		Frederick Flatman Frederick Flatman Frederick Robert Flatman was a New Zealand Member of Parliament of the Liberal Party for the Pareora and Geraldine electorates...
1899 election New Zealand general election, 1899 The New Zealand general election of 1899 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Tuesday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 14th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 373,744 voters turned out to...
1902 election New Zealand general election, 1902 The New Zealand general election of 1902 was held on Tuesday, 25 November in the general electorates, and on Monday, 22 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 15th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
1905 election New Zealand general election, 1905 The New Zealand general election of 1905 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 16th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
1908 election New Zealand general election, 1908 The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held on Tuesday, 17 November, 24 November and 1 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 2 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament...		Thomas Buxton Thomas Buxton (New Zealand) Thomas Buxton was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He represented the Geraldine electorate from 1908 to 1911; and then the Timaru electorate from 1911 to 1914 when he retired....