Rangitikei by-election 1978
Encyclopedia
The Rangitikei by-election of 1978 was a by-election
in the New Zealand
electorate of Rangitikei
, a predominantly rural district in the middle of New Zealand's North Island
. The by-election occurred on 18 February 1978, and was precipitated by the death of sitting National Party
MP
(and Speaker of the House) Sir Roy Jack
in December 1977.
The by-election was contested by all major parties. It was won by Bruce Beetham
, the Social Credit Party
candidate, with a majority of 1,335. He became the second Social Credit Party MP in New Zealand's history. This upset was extremely rare in the post-war political climate of New Zealand, especially in a rural electorate that traditionally voted National (although such voting is more likely in a by-election). The National Party candidate Jim Bull came second, the Labour Party
candidate (and rugby coach) Dr J.J. Stewart came third and the Values Party
candidate Dr Denis Hocking came fourth.
Beetham was the Social Credit leader and had polled a strong second in the seat in 1975
. National was hampered as its candidate was only a stand in until the general election later in the year. Sir Roy Jack planned to retire then, to be replaced by the Minister of Education Les Gandar
whose Ruahine
seat had been abolished in boundary changes.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in the 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...
electorate of Rangitikei
Rangitikei (New Zealand electorate)
rightRangitīkei is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Rangitīkei is Simon Power of the National Party...
, a predominantly rural district in the middle of New Zealand's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. The by-election occurred on 18 February 1978, and was precipitated by the death of sitting 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
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(and Speaker of the House) Sir Roy Jack
Roy Jack
Sir Roy Emile Jack was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1972 and 1976 to 1977, and a cabinet minister....
in December 1977.
The by-election was contested by all major parties. It was won by Bruce Beetham
Bruce Beetham
Bruce Craig Beetham was an academic and politician from New Zealand, whose career spanned the 1970s and early 1980s.A lecturer at Hamilton's University of Waikato and at the Hamilton Teacher's Training College, he was elected leader of the Social Credit Party in 1972, at a time when the party was...
, 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...
candidate, with a majority of 1,335. He became the second Social Credit Party MP in New Zealand's history. This upset was extremely rare in the post-war political climate of New Zealand, especially in a rural electorate that traditionally voted National (although such voting is more likely in a by-election). The National Party candidate Jim Bull came second, 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....
candidate (and rugby coach) Dr J.J. Stewart came third and the Values Party
Values Party
The Values Party, considered the world's first national-level environmentalist party that pre-dated any fashionable Green terminology, was established in 1972 at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, one of its initial leaders being Tony Brunt...
candidate Dr Denis Hocking came fourth.
Beetham was the Social Credit leader and had polled a strong second in the seat in 1975
New Zealand general election, 1975
The 1975 New Zealand general election was held to elect MPs to the 38th session of the New Zealand Parliament. It was the first election in New Zealand where 18-20 year olds and all permanent residents of New Zealand were eligible to vote, although only citizens were able to be...
. National was hampered as its candidate was only a stand in until the general election later in the year. Sir Roy Jack planned to retire then, to be replaced by the Minister of Education Les Gandar
Les Gandar
Leslie Walter Gandar was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the seat of Manawatu from 1966 to 1972, then Ruahine from 1972 to 1978. He was defeated in 1978 for the new seat of Rangitikei by Bruce Beetham. Beetham had won the seat in the Rangitikei by-election, held...
whose Ruahine
Ruahine (New Zealand electorate)
Ruahine is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1972 to 1978.-History:The Ruahine electorate was created in 1972, and in 1978 was absorbed into the new Rangitikei electorate.-Election results:-References:...
seat had been abolished in boundary changes.