John Blincoe
Encyclopedia
John Blincoe is a former New Zealand
politician. He was an MP from 1990
to 1996
, representing the Labour Party
.
to Victor and May Blincoe. He attended Hampden St. School, Nelson College Preparatory School and Nelson College
. Later, he was educated at Victoria University of Wellington
, New Zealand where he gained two degrees: one in law
and the other in political science
. Prior to becoming a member of New Zealand's parliament, he had been employed by the Wellington City Council as well as by the Accident Compensation Corporation
. Blincoe currently lives in Wellington. He has two children: Kate and Emily Blincoe.
Blincoe served as the President of NZUSA during 1976.
as MP for Nelson, replacing the outgoing Philip Woollaston
. He was re-elected in the 1993 elections
, but in the 1996 elections
, the seat of Nelson was expanded into rural areas formerly part of the Tasman electorate. Blincoe was defeated by the incumbent Tasman MP, Nick Smith
of the National Party
.
, Blincoe missed out on a seat in a spectacularly fascinating manner. Initially (before special votes were taken into consideration), it appeared that Blincoe would have a seat in Parliament; along with the party member directly below him on the Labour party's list. However, with the counting of the special votes, the Green Party
, who initially had gained a proportion of votes less than 5% and had no constituency MPs voted in, achieved the minimum percentage of 5%: enabling them to have seats in Parliament. The counting of the special votes resulted in the Green Party achieving six list seats as well as one constituency seat. "I got in on election night", says Blincoe, "[but only] just - by a couple of places ... The Greens didn't get in on election night [as their percentage of votes was] just below 5%, but on the final count they got in [under MMP
]." Hence, the overall percentage of seats allocated to Labour diminished. Had this been the only seat loss for his party, Blincoe would still have received a seat in Parliament. However, Winston Peters
(albeit by a very narrow margin of sixty-two votes - to the National
candidate) gained the constituency seat of Tauranga
which enabled his party, New Zealand First
, to acquire seats in Parliament. Again, this caused the number of seats allocated to the Labour party to diminish. The former, coupled with the latter, led to Blincoe being denied a seat: the margin was that of two seats. "If the Greens hadn't got in on the final counts or, (b), if Winston Peters had not gained the Tauranga seat", Blincoe continues, he would have been a member of Parliament.
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...
politician. He was an MP from 1990
New Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
to 1996
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, representing the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
.
Early life and family
According to his eldest daughter, Blincoe was born on 14 March 1952 in Nelson, New ZealandNelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
to Victor and May Blincoe. He attended Hampden St. School, Nelson College Preparatory School and Nelson College
Nelson College
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys...
. Later, he was educated at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, New Zealand where he gained two degrees: one in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and the other in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. Prior to becoming a member of New Zealand's parliament, he had been employed by the Wellington City Council as well as by the Accident Compensation Corporation
Accident Compensation Corporation
The Accident Compensation Corporation is a New Zealand Crown entity responsible for administering the Accident Compensation Act 2001. The Act provides support to citizens, residents, and temporary visitors who have suffered personal injuries....
. Blincoe currently lives in Wellington. He has two children: Kate and Emily Blincoe.
Blincoe served as the President of NZUSA during 1976.
Member of Parliament
Blincoe was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
as MP for Nelson, replacing the outgoing Philip Woollaston
Philip Woollaston
Hon Philip Tosswill Edmond Woollaston was a New Zealand member of Parliament of the Labour Party from 1981 to 1990 and Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1992 to 1998....
. He was re-elected in the 1993 elections
New Zealand general election, 1993
The 1993 New Zealand general election was held on 6 November 1993 to determine the composition of the 44th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Jim Bolger, win a second term in office, despite a major swing back towards the Labour Party. The new Alliance and New...
, but in the 1996 elections
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, the seat of Nelson was expanded into rural areas formerly part of the Tasman electorate. Blincoe was defeated by the incumbent Tasman MP, Nick Smith
Nick Smith (New Zealand)
Nicolas Rex "Nick" Smith is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand Parliament as a National Party MP...
of the 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:...
.
1999 election
In the 1999 electionNew Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, Blincoe missed out on a seat in a spectacularly fascinating manner. Initially (before special votes were taken into consideration), it appeared that Blincoe would have a seat in Parliament; along with the party member directly below him on the Labour party's list. However, with the counting of the special votes, the Green Party
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
, who initially had gained a proportion of votes less than 5% and had no constituency MPs voted in, achieved the minimum percentage of 5%: enabling them to have seats in Parliament. The counting of the special votes resulted in the Green Party achieving six list seats as well as one constituency seat. "I got in on election night", says Blincoe, "[but only] just - by a couple of places ... The Greens didn't get in on election night [as their percentage of votes was] just below 5%, but on the final count they got in [under MMP
Mixed member proportional representation
Mixed-member proportional representation, also termed mixed-member proportional voting and commonly abbreviated to MMP, is a voting system originally used to elect representatives to the German Bundestag, and nowadays adopted by numerous legislatures around the world...
]." Hence, the overall percentage of seats allocated to Labour diminished. Had this been the only seat loss for his party, Blincoe would still have received a seat in Parliament. However, Winston Peters
Winston Peters
Winston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being...
(albeit by a very narrow margin of sixty-two votes - to the National
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:...
candidate) gained the constituency seat of Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
which enabled his party, New Zealand First
New Zealand First
New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
, to acquire seats in Parliament. Again, this caused the number of seats allocated to the Labour party to diminish. The former, coupled with the latter, led to Blincoe being denied a seat: the margin was that of two seats. "If the Greens hadn't got in on the final counts or, (b), if Winston Peters had not gained the Tauranga seat", Blincoe continues, he would have been a member of Parliament.
Further reading
- This pamphlet was written by Blincoe and Julian Ludbrook.
- This pamphlet was written by Blincoe and Julian Ludbrook.