Through an amendment in the Electoral Act in 1965, the number of electorates in the
South Island was fixed at 25, an increase of one since the 1962 electoral redistribution.[1] It was accepted that through the more rapid population growth in the
North Island, the number of its electorates would continue to increase, and to keep proportionality, three new electorates were allowed for in the 1967 electoral redistribution for the next election.[2] In the North Island, five electorates were newly created (
Birkenhead,
Hamilton West,
Henderson,
Mangere, and
Western Hutt) and one electorate was reconstituted (
Waikato) while three electorates were abolished (
Hamilton,
Waipa, and
Waitakere).[3] In the South Island, three electorates were newly created (
Papanui,
South Canterbury, and
Wigram) and one electorate was reconstituted (
Oamaru) while three electorates were abolished (
Ashburton,
Fendalton, and
Waitaki).[4] The overall effect of the required changes was highly disruptive to existing electorates, with all but three electorates (
Franklin,
Wairarapa, and
St Kilda) having their boundaries altered.[5] These changes came into effect with the 1969 election.[2]
The increase to 84 electorates was the first since the 1902 electoral distribution.[6] Due to the fixed number of South Island electorates, the number of North Island electorates has increased in every subsequent election until the introduction of
mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) for the
1996 election, which fixed the number of seats at 120.[7]
MPs retiring in 1969
Four National MPs and five Labour MPs intended to retire at the end of the 35th Parliament.
Sir
Walter Nash MP for
Hutt had announced he would retire at the end of the term in 1969, but he died on 4 June 1968 triggering a by-election instead.[8]
Election
The election was held on 29 November. Turnout was 88.94%. The total number of MPs had increased to 84,[9] with at least 3 of the 4 new seats likely Labour seats. 55 and 25 electorates were in the
North Island and
South Island, respectively, plus the 4 Māori electorates.[10]
Results
National pulled off a cliff-hanger victory.
National won 45 seats, and
Labour won 39 seats, though Labour's share of the vote was only 1% behind National. The
Social Credit Party lost its only seat in Parliament:
Hobson, formerly held by then party leader
Vernon Cracknell.
Despite the hopes of a reinvigorated Labour party under
Norman Kirk, Labour was overconfident, started too late, and did not win in Auckland. Relations with the Federation of Labour and the unions were not good, and an industrial dispute on the ship Wainui cost Labour three Auckland seats according to Kirk. Labour MP
Warren Freer personally believed that "had it not been for the seamen's strike during the election period, we could have won".[11]
In
Eden, Labour was first on election night but lost when special votes were counted.
Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen.
ISBN0-474-00177-6.
McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books.
ISBN0-477-01384-8.
Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.
ISBN0-475-11200-8.
Templeton, Ian; Eunson, Keith (1969). Election '69.
Templeton, Ian; Eunson, Keith (1972). In the Balance: Election '72. Dunedin: John McIndoe.
Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer.
OCLC154283103.