Te Tai Tokerau by-election, 2011
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Te Tai Tokerau by-election was a by-election in the New Zealand
electorate
of Te Tai Tokerau
that was caused by Hone Harawira
's resignation from the seat. He chose to re-contest it with the Mana Party
in order to seek a new mandate for his views. After generating several days of media interest and criticism Harawira announced on 4 May 2011 that he was delaying his resignation in order to consult his supporters in his electorate. On 11 May 2011 Harawira wrote to the Speaker of the House to resign from Parliament, with effect from 20 May 2011. On 12 May 2011 the Prime Minister
John Key
announced that the by-election would be held on 25 June.
. Under New Zealand law, a by-election will not be held if there will be a general election within the next six months and 75% of MPs agree not to hold the by-election. So if Harawira had resigned later than 26 May then the by-election may not have occurred.
Harawira defended the by-election, which cost an estimated $500,000, by saying "It's hardly an expense in terms of democracy."
resigned first from the National Party, following disagreements with its leadership, and then as an MP in order to seek a "fresh mandate" for his views. The Tauranga by-election was labelled by media and opposing parties as a 'Publicity stunt', as was this by-election.
Claire Trevett of The New Zealand Herald
saw Harawira's resignation to force the election as "a direct echo" of Tariana Turia
's resignation to force the 2004 Te Tai Hauauru by-election. However, it should be noted that Turia called her by-election 14 months before the 2005 New Zealand general election
actually took place at a time when the election date had not been set. Harawira's by-election took place within six months of a general election.
standing for the Mana Party
, the Māori Party
selected Solomon Tipene as its candidate (choosing him over Waihoroi Shortland and Mere Mangu for the nomination). Kelvin Davis
stood for the Labour Party
. Kelvyn Alp
contested the by-election for the OurNZ Party while Maki Herbert stood for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
.
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
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...
of Te Tai Tokerau
Te Tai Tokerau
Te Tai Tokerau is a New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorate. Since 2005, it has been held by MP Hone Harawira. A by-election was held in this seat due to Harawira's resignation from Parliament...
that was caused by Hone Harawira
Hone Harawira
Hone Pani Tamati Waka Nene Harawira is a New Zealand Māori activist and parliamentarian. He was elected to the Parliament of New Zealand for the Māori electorate of Te Tai Tokerau in the 2005 general election as the Māori Party candidate. His resignation caused the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, held...
's resignation from the seat. He chose to re-contest it with the Mana Party
Mana Party (New Zealand)
The Mana Party is a New Zealand political party led by Hone Harawira. It was formed in April 2011, and plans to contest the 2011 general election. Standing under the Mana Party banner, Mana won an early victory when Mr Harawira won the by-election in Te Tai Tokerau held on 25 June 2011...
in order to seek a new mandate for his views. After generating several days of media interest and criticism Harawira announced on 4 May 2011 that he was delaying his resignation in order to consult his supporters in his electorate. On 11 May 2011 Harawira wrote to the Speaker of the House to resign from Parliament, with effect from 20 May 2011. On 12 May 2011 the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
announced that the by-election would be held on 25 June.
Reception
Many politicians and political commentators criticised the by-election because it would occur so close to the 2011 New Zealand general electionNew Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
. Under New Zealand law, a by-election will not be held if there will be a general election within the next six months and 75% of MPs agree not to hold the by-election. So if Harawira had resigned later than 26 May then the by-election may not have occurred.
Harawira defended the by-election, which cost an estimated $500,000, by saying "It's hardly an expense in terms of democracy."
By-elections
The New Zealand political blogging community viewed some aspects of the by-election as being very similar to the 1993 Tauranga by-election. That by-election was held on 17 April and the subsequent general election on November 7, after Winston PetersWinston 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...
resigned first from the National Party, following disagreements with its leadership, and then as an MP in order to seek a "fresh mandate" for his views. The Tauranga by-election was labelled by media and opposing parties as a 'Publicity stunt', as was this by-election.
Claire Trevett of The New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
saw Harawira's resignation to force the election as "a direct echo" of Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia is a New Zealand politician. She gained considerable prominence during the foreshore and seabed controversy, and eventually broke with her party as a result...
's resignation to force the 2004 Te Tai Hauauru by-election. However, it should be noted that Turia called her by-election 14 months before the 2005 New Zealand general election
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
actually took place at a time when the election date had not been set. Harawira's by-election took place within six months of a general election.
Candidates
Five candidates stood in the by-election. Besides Hone HarawiraHone Harawira
Hone Pani Tamati Waka Nene Harawira is a New Zealand Māori activist and parliamentarian. He was elected to the Parliament of New Zealand for the Māori electorate of Te Tai Tokerau in the 2005 general election as the Māori Party candidate. His resignation caused the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, held...
standing for the Mana Party
Mana Party (New Zealand)
The Mana Party is a New Zealand political party led by Hone Harawira. It was formed in April 2011, and plans to contest the 2011 general election. Standing under the Mana Party banner, Mana won an early victory when Mr Harawira won the by-election in Te Tai Tokerau held on 25 June 2011...
, the Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
selected Solomon Tipene as its candidate (choosing him over Waihoroi Shortland and Mere Mangu for the nomination). Kelvin Davis
Kelvin Davis (politician)
Kelvin Davis is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labour Party.-Member of Parliament:In the 2008 elections Davis stood for Labour in the Te Tai Tokerau seat...
stood for 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....
. Kelvyn Alp
Kelvyn Alp
Kelvyn Alp born 27 March 1971, was the leader of the Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand which stood in the 2005 general elections. He also stood for Mayor of Manukau in 2007. Alp stood in the 2011 Te Tai Tokerau by-election under the OurNZ Party banner receving 0.5% of the vote...
contested the by-election for the OurNZ Party while Maki Herbert stood for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party is a political party in New Zealand. It is dedicated to removing or reducing restrictions on the use of cannabis and similar substances...
.