Selwyn by-election 1994
Encyclopedia
The Selwyn by-election was a by-election
in the New Zealand
electorate of Selwyn
, a predominantly rural district in the middle of New Zealand's South Island
. It took place on 13 August 1994, and was precipitated by the resignation from parliament of siting MP Ruth Richardson
. Richardson was retiring from politics, having been removed as Minister of Finance
the previous year.
The by-election was contested by all major parties. It was won by David Carter
, the National Party
candidate, and therefore did not change the distribution of seats in Parliament. In second place, and only around four hundred votes behind Carter, was the Alliance
's John Wright
, a result that surprised many commentators. National's traditional opponent, the Labour Party
, placed a distant third. The fourth major candidate was from the New Zealand First
party, Tim Shadbolt
, who was the Mayor of Invercargill
at that time.
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 Selwyn
Selwyn (New Zealand electorate)
Selwyn is the name of three seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives, based around towns on the outskirts of Christchurch city. In an historical sense, the name refers to an electorate that existed between 1866 and 1919...
, a predominantly rural district in the middle of New Zealand's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. It took place on 13 August 1994, and was precipitated by the resignation from parliament of siting MP Ruth Richardson
Ruth Richardson
Ruth Richardson served as New Zealand's Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993, and is known for her strong pursuit of free-market economic reforms .-Early life:...
. Richardson was retiring from politics, having been removed as Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
the previous year.
The by-election was contested by all major parties. It was won by David Carter
David Carter (politician)
David Cunningham Carter is a New Zealand politician, currently a government cabinet minister. He is a member of the National Party.-Early life:...
, 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:...
candidate, and therefore did not change the distribution of seats in Parliament. In second place, and only around four hundred votes behind Carter, was the Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
's John Wright
John Wright (politician)
John Wright is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1996 to 2002, representing the Alliance.Before entering Parliament he owned the Port-a-Loo company....
, a result that surprised many commentators. National's traditional opponent, 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....
, placed a distant third. The fourth major candidate was from the 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...
party, Tim Shadbolt
Tim Shadbolt
Timothy Richard "Tim" Shadbolt is a New Zealand politician. He is the Mayor of Invercargill and was previously Mayor of Waitemata City.-Early life:...
, who was the Mayor of Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
at that time.