New Zealand general election, 1972
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand general election of 1972 was held to elect MPs to the 37th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Labour Party
, led by Norman Kirk
, defeated the governing National Party
.
, when it had defeated the short-lived one-term Labour government of Walter Nash
. For most of this period, National had been led by Keith Holyoake
, whose policies were focused around stability and a "steady as she goes" approach. Holyoake and his cabinet was increasingly perceived as tired and worn-out, so shortly before the 1972 elections Holyoake stood aside for his deputy, Jack Marshall
, who took steps to reinvigorate the National Party.
Norman Kirk
had been catapulted into leadership of the Labour party at the end of 1965, after 8 years as a back-bencher. He did much to modernise and update the party, but Labour narrowly lost the 1969 election. So Kirk slimmed and dressed to improve his image, and visited several overseas Labour parties to broaden his knowledge. He activated a "spokesman" or shadow cabinet system to spread the responsibility, though it was difficult to avoid one composed largely of Auckland and Christchurch members. But In the Balance wondered (August 1972) whether National could pull off another cliff-hanger victory.
of 89.1%. This turnout was slightly higher than the previous election, and considerably higher than the following one. The number of seats being contested was 87, the highest number since the late 19th century.
defeat the governing National Party
, winning 55 seats to National's 32. Labour was therefore able to form its first government since 1960, with Norman Kirk
becoming Prime Minister
. The second National government
thus gave way to the third Labour government
. No minor parties managed to gain seats, and no independents were elected. There were 1,583,256 electors on the roll, with 1,401,152 (88.50%) voting.
1 Independent runner-up,
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....
, led by Norman Kirk
Norman Kirk
Norman Eric Kirk was the 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He led the Parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1974. He was the fourth Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, but the first to be born in New Zealand...
, defeated the governing 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:...
.
Background
The National Party had been in office since the 1960 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1960
The 1960 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 33rd term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the National Party, putting an end to the short second Labour government.-Background:...
, when it had defeated the short-lived one-term Labour government of Walter Nash
Walter Nash
Sir Walter Nash, GCMG, CH served as the 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960, and was also highly influential in his role as Minister of Finance...
. For most of this period, National had been led by Keith Holyoake
Keith Holyoake
Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...
, whose policies were focused around stability and a "steady as she goes" approach. Holyoake and his cabinet was increasingly perceived as tired and worn-out, so shortly before the 1972 elections Holyoake stood aside for his deputy, Jack Marshall
Jack Marshall
Sir John Ross Marshall, GBE, CH, , generally known as Jack Marshall, was a New Zealand politician. After spending twelve years as Deputy Prime Minister, he served as the 28th Prime Minister for most of 1972....
, who took steps to reinvigorate the National Party.
Norman Kirk
Norman Kirk
Norman Eric Kirk was the 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He led the Parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1974. He was the fourth Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, but the first to be born in New Zealand...
had been catapulted into leadership of the Labour party at the end of 1965, after 8 years as a back-bencher. He did much to modernise and update the party, but Labour narrowly lost the 1969 election. So Kirk slimmed and dressed to improve his image, and visited several overseas Labour parties to broaden his knowledge. He activated a "spokesman" or shadow cabinet system to spread the responsibility, though it was difficult to avoid one composed largely of Auckland and Christchurch members. But In the Balance wondered (August 1972) whether National could pull off another cliff-hanger victory.
The election
The date for the 1972 elections was 25 November, a Saturday. 1,583,256 people were registered to vote, and there was a turnoutVoter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
of 89.1%. This turnout was slightly higher than the previous election, and considerably higher than the following one. The number of seats being contested was 87, the highest number since the late 19th century.
Results
The 1972 election saw the Labour PartyNew 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....
defeat the governing 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:...
, winning 55 seats to National's 32. Labour was therefore able to form its first government since 1960, with Norman Kirk
Norman Kirk
Norman Eric Kirk was the 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He led the Parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1974. He was the fourth Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, but the first to be born in New Zealand...
becoming Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
. The second National government
Second National Government of New Zealand
The Second National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1960 to 1972. It was a conservative government which sought mainly to preserve the economic prosperity and general stability of the early 1960s...
thus gave way to the third Labour government
Third Labour Government of New Zealand
The Third Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1972 to 1975. During its time in office, it carried out a wide range of reforms in areas such as overseas trade, farming, public works, energy generation, local government, health, the arts, sport and recreation,...
. No minor parties managed to gain seats, and no independents were elected. There were 1,583,256 electors on the roll, with 1,401,152 (88.50%) voting.
| Party | Candidates | Total votes | Percentage | Seats won | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 677,669 | 48.37 | 55 | +16 | ||
| 87 | 581,422 | 41.50 | 32 | -13 | ||
| 87 | 93,231 | 6.65 | - | ±0 | ||
| 42 | 27,467 | 1.96 | - | ±0 | ||
| New Democratic Party New Democratic Party (New Zealand) The New Democratic Party of New Zealand was a small political party established in 1972. It was a splinter group from the better-known Social Credit Party, having been founded by former Social Credit leader John O'Brien. O'Brien was considered a powerful and energetic orator, but had a... |
86 | 8,783 | 0.63 | - | ±0 | |
| 42 | 4,454 | 0.32 | - | ±0 | ||
| Liberal Reform Party | 24 | 4,077 | 0.29 | - | ±0 | |
| Dr Barry Dallas Barry Dallas Dr. Barry Mitchell Dallas OBE JP was a Mayor of Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand.-Mayor of Greymouth:Dr. Barry Dallas was a Mayor of Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island... 1 |
1 | 4,049 | 0.29 | - | ±0 | |
| Total Votes | 1,401,152 | 87 | +3 | |||
1 Independent runner-up,