Wakanui (New Zealand electorate)
Encyclopedia
Wakanui was a rural parliamentary electorate
in the south Canterbury Region of New Zealand
, from 1881 to 1887.
, i.e. for the 8th New Zealand Parliament
. It existed for two parliamentary terms until 1887.
The first elected representative was Cathcart Wason
, who had contested the 9 December 1881 election against Joseph Ivess
and O. W. Purnell. Ivess petitioned against the election on numerous grounds. The election petitions court started hearing the case in February 1882. Members were sworn in on 18 May 1882 for the first session of the 8th Parliament. Wason was not present. On the following day, the results of the various election petitions were read out, and the 1881 Wakanui election was declared void. Wason lost his seat in Parliament without having ever taken it.
A 16 June 1882 by-election was held, which was contested by Alfred Saunders
and Ivess. Ivess and Saunders received 604 and 541 votes, and Ivess was thus declared elected. He represented Wakanui until 1884.
John Grigg
won the 1884 general election
, but he resigned in 1885. Ivess was re-elected in 1885.
, Rakaia
, Longbeach
and Seafield (a locality some 13 km east of Ashburton).
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...
in the south Canterbury Region of 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...
, from 1881 to 1887.
History
Wakanui was formed for the 1881 general electionNew Zealand general election, 1881
The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December...
, i.e. for the 8th New Zealand Parliament
8th New Zealand Parliament
The 8th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 4 Māori electorates and xx general electorates on 8 and 9 December 1881, respectively. A total of 95 MPs were elected. Parliament was prorogued in June 1884...
. It existed for two parliamentary terms until 1887.
The first elected representative was Cathcart Wason
Cathcart Wason
Cathcart Wason , generally known as Cathcart Wason, was a Scottish farmer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament in two countries: first in New Zealand and then in Scotland, after the failure of his colonial ventures...
, who had contested the 9 December 1881 election against Joseph Ivess
Joseph Ivess
Joseph Ivess was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives.-Biography:Joseph Ivess was born in Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland in 1844. In 1852 he accompanied his parents to Melbourne, Australia, where he was educated at Barnett's Grammar School, Emerald Hill. His father, John Pope...
and O. W. Purnell. Ivess petitioned against the election on numerous grounds. The election petitions court started hearing the case in February 1882. Members were sworn in on 18 May 1882 for the first session of the 8th Parliament. Wason was not present. On the following day, the results of the various election petitions were read out, and the 1881 Wakanui election was declared void. Wason lost his seat in Parliament without having ever taken it.
A 16 June 1882 by-election was held, which was contested by Alfred Saunders
Alfred Saunders
Alfred Saunders was a 19th century New Zealand politician.He was elected onto the Nelson Provincial Council representing Waimea South in 1855 and remained a councillor until his election of Superintendent for the Nelson Province from 1865 to 1867. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Waimea...
and Ivess. Ivess and Saunders received 604 and 541 votes, and Ivess was thus declared elected. He represented Wakanui until 1884.
John Grigg
John Grigg (politician)
John Grigg was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand.He briefly represented the Wakanui electorate from 23 July 1884 to 4 June 1885, when he resigned.-References:...
won the 1884 general election
New Zealand general election, 1884
The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:...
, but he resigned in 1885. Ivess was re-elected in 1885.
Population centres
This electorate is in the rural parts of south Canterbury. In the 1881 election, polling booths were in AshburtonAshburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
, Rakaia
Rakaia
The town of Rakaia is seated close to the southern banks of the Rakaia River on the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island, on State Highway 1 and the Main South Line. Immediately north of the township are the country's longest road bridge and longest rail bridge, both of which cross the...
, Longbeach
Longbeach, New Zealand
Longbeach is a lowly populated locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located in a rural area of the Canterbury Plains on the shore of the Pacific Ocean on the northern side of the Hinds River's mouth....
and Seafield (a locality some 13 km east of Ashburton).
Members
If Wason is counted, Wakanui had three representatives:| Election | Winner | |
| 1881 New Zealand general election, 1881 The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December... |
Cathcart Wason Cathcart Wason Cathcart Wason , generally known as Cathcart Wason, was a Scottish farmer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament in two countries: first in New Zealand and then in Scotland, after the failure of his colonial ventures... (Independent) |
|
| 1882 by-election | Joseph Ivess Joseph Ivess Joseph Ivess was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives.-Biography:Joseph Ivess was born in Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland in 1844. In 1852 he accompanied his parents to Melbourne, Australia, where he was educated at Barnett's Grammar School, Emerald Hill. His father, John Pope... (Independent) |
|
| 1884 New Zealand general election, 1884 The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:... |
John Grigg John Grigg (politician) John Grigg was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand.He briefly represented the Wakanui electorate from 23 July 1884 to 4 June 1885, when he resigned.-References:... (Independent) |
|
| 1885 by-election | Joseph Ivess (2nd period; Independent) |