Hokitika (New Zealand electorate)
Encyclopedia
Hokitika is a former parliamentary electorate
in the West Coast
region of New Zealand
, based on the town of Hokitika. It existed from 1871 to 1890 and was represented by nine Members of Parliament. For a time, it was one of the two-member electorates in New Zealand.
was its first representative until the end of the parliamentary term in 1875, when he retired.
Beginning with the 1875–76 general election, which was held in Hokitika on 14 January 1876, the electorate was represented by two members. Edmund Barff and Charles Button
were elected. Barff served the whole term until 1879, while Button resigned in May 1878 and was succeeded by Seymour Thorne George
, who successfully stood in the Rodney electorate
in 1879.
Robert Caldwell Reid
and Richard Seddon
were elected in the 1879 general election
. Seddon, who was later Premier ("King Dick"), was in 1881 elected for Kumara
. Reid contested the 1881 general election
against Gerald George Fitzgerald
, with the latter being successful.
John Bevan
won the 1884 general election
, and he was succeeded in the 1887 election
by Joseph Grimmond
. In 1890, the Hokitika electorate was abolished. Grimmond stood in the Westland electorate
instead, but was defeated by Richard Seddon.
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 West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
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...
, based on the town of Hokitika. It existed from 1871 to 1890 and was represented by nine Members of Parliament. For a time, it was one of the two-member electorates in New Zealand.
History
The Hokitika electorate existed from the 1871 general election to 1890. John WhiteJohn White (New Zealand politician)
John White was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.White and Edmund Barff contested the Hokitika electorate in the 1871 general election, with White being successful. He represented the electorate until the end of the term in 1875 when he retired.-References:...
was its first representative until the end of the parliamentary term in 1875, when he retired.
Beginning with the 1875–76 general election, which was held in Hokitika on 14 January 1876, the electorate was represented by two members. Edmund Barff and Charles Button
Charles Button
Charles Edward Button was an independent conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He was elected to the Hokitika electorate in 1876, but resigned in 1878. He was then elected to the multi-member City of Auckland electorate in 1893, but was defeated in 1896.-References:...
were elected. Barff served the whole term until 1879, while Button resigned in May 1878 and was succeeded by Seymour Thorne George
Seymour Thorne George
Seymour Thorne George was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1878 to 1879. He then represented the Auckland electorate of Rodney from 1879 to 1884, when he retired....
, who successfully stood in the Rodney electorate
Rodney (New Zealand electorate)
rightRodney is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Rodney is Mark Mitchell of the National Party...
in 1879.
Robert Caldwell Reid
Robert Caldwell Reid
Robert Caldwell Reid was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1879 to 1881, when he was defeated by Gerald George Fitzgerald.-References:...
and Richard Seddon
Richard Seddon
Richard John Seddon , sometimes known as King Dick, is to date the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded by some, including historian Keith Sinclair, as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders....
were elected in the 1879 general election
New Zealand general election, 1879
The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between 28 August and 15 September to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 1 and 8 September. A total number of 82,271 voters turned out to vote.The election came about when George...
. Seddon, who was later Premier ("King Dick"), was in 1881 elected for Kumara
Kumara (New Zealand electorate)
Kumara was a parliamentary electorate in the West Coast region of New Zealand, from 1881 to 1890.During that time, Kumara was represented by one Member of Parliament, the future Prime Minister Richard Seddon ....
. Reid contested the 1881 general election
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...
against Gerald George Fitzgerald
Gerald George Fitzgerald
Gerald George Fitzgerald was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he was defeated. He was a brother of James FitzGerald.-References:...
, with the latter being successful.
John Bevan
John Bevan (New Zealand politician)
John Bevan was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1884 to 1887, when he was defeated.-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:...
, and he was succeeded in the 1887 election
New Zealand general election, 1887
The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....
by Joseph Grimmond
Joseph Grimmond
Joseph Grimmond was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1887 to 1890, when he was defeated for Westland....
. In 1890, the Hokitika electorate was abolished. Grimmond stood in the Westland electorate
Westland (New Zealand electorate)
Westland was a parliamentary electorate in the West Coast of New Zealand from 1866 to 1868 and 1890 to 1972. In 1972 the Tasman and West Coast electorates replaced the former Buller and Westland electorates.-History:...
instead, but was defeated by Richard Seddon.
Members of Parliament
Hokitika was represented by nine Members of Parliament.1871 to 1875
From 1871 to 1875, Hokitika was a single-member electorate. It was represented by one Member of Parliament.| Election | Winner | |
| 1871 election | John White John White (New Zealand politician) John White was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.White and Edmund Barff contested the Hokitika electorate in the 1871 general election, with White being successful. He represented the electorate until the end of the term in 1875 when he retired.-References:... (Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... ) |
|
1876 to 1881
From 1876 to 1881, Hokitika was a two-member electorate. It was represented by five Members of Parliament.| Election | Winners | |||
| 1876 election | Edmund Barff (Independent) | Charles Button Charles Button Charles Edward Button was an independent conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He was elected to the Hokitika electorate in 1876, but resigned in 1878. He was then elected to the multi-member City of Auckland electorate in 1893, but was defeated in 1896.-References:... (Independent) |
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| 1878 by-election | Seymour Thorne George Seymour Thorne George Seymour Thorne George was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1878 to 1879. He then represented the Auckland electorate of Rodney from 1879 to 1884, when he retired.... (Independent) |
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| 1879 election New Zealand general election, 1879 The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between 28 August and 15 September to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 1 and 8 September. A total number of 82,271 voters turned out to vote.The election came about when George... |
Robert Caldwell Reid Robert Caldwell Reid Robert Caldwell Reid was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1879 to 1881, when he was defeated by Gerald George Fitzgerald.-References:... (Independent) |
Richard Seddon Richard Seddon Richard John Seddon , sometimes known as King Dick, is to date the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded by some, including historian Keith Sinclair, as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders.... (Independent) |
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1881 to 1890
From 1881 to 1890, Hokitika was again a single-member electorate, represented by three Members of Parliament.| Election | Winner | |
| 1881 election 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... |
Gerald George Fitzgerald Gerald George Fitzgerald Gerald George Fitzgerald was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he was defeated. He was a brother of James FitzGerald.-References:... (Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... ) |
|
| 1884 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:... |
John Bevan John Bevan (New Zealand politician) John Bevan was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1884 to 1887, when he was defeated.-References:... (Independent) |
|
| 1887 election New Zealand general election, 1887 The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast.... |
Joseph Grimmond Joseph Grimmond Joseph Grimmond was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand.He represented the Hokitika electorate from 1887 to 1890, when he was defeated for Westland.... (Independent) |
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