Rakaia was a 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...

 Parliamentary 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...

 in the Canterbury

Canterbury, New Zealand

The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...

 region from 1972 to 1978 and 1993 to 2008.

The seat was held by Brian Connell

Brian Connell

The New Zealand politician Brian David Connell represented the New Zealand National Party in the New Zealand Parliament from 2002 to 2008....

 MP from 2002 to 2008.

Population Centres

The electorate included the following population centres:

• Ashburton
• Rakaia

History

The Rakaia seat previously existed from 1972 to 1978, when it was held by Colin McLachlan

Colin McLachlan

Colin Campbell Alexander McLachlan was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. A farmer by profession, he was the Member of Parliament for Selwyn 1966–72, Rakaia 1972–78, then Selwyn again 1978–81, when he retired....

, who previously and subsequently held the 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...

 seat.

Due to boundary changes for the 2008 general election, the Rakaia seat ceased to exist. Its population centres were redistributed among the new seats of Rangitata and 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...

.

In the 2008 elections

New Zealand general election, 2008

The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...

, 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...

 was expected to be a safe National

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:...

 seat while Rangitata

Rangitata

Rangitata is an electorate in the South Island of New Zealand. It first existed for two parliamentary terms in the late 19ths century and was re-established for the 2008 general election. It largely replaces the Aoraki electorate, but includes parts of the Rakaia electorate as well...

 was considered vulnerable to recapture by Labour

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....

 due to the city of Timaru

Timaru

TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...

 in the electorate. Both, however, were won by National Party members–Amy Adams

Amy Adams (politician)

Amy Adams is a member of the New Zealand Parliament. She currently represents the Selwyn electorate and is a member of the National Party.-Private life:...

 and Jo Goodhew

Jo Goodhew

Jo Goodhew is a New Zealand politician, and currently serves as a member of Parliament.-Early years:Goodhew grew up in Timaru, and attended Timaru Girls' High School. She holds a qualification in nursing from Otago Polytechnic...

, respectively.

Election results

Election	Winner
		Colin McLachlan Colin McLachlan Colin Campbell Alexander McLachlan was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. A farmer by profession, he was the Member of Parliament for Selwyn 1966–72, Rakaia 1972–78, then Selwyn again 1978–81, when he retired....
		Jenny Shipley Jenny Shipley Dame Jenny Shipley, DNZM , served as the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999, the first woman to hold this office and the first, and to date only, woman to serve as parliamentary leader of the National Party of New Zealand.-Early life:Shipley was born as Jennifer...
		Brian Connell Brian Connell The New Zealand politician Brian David Connell represented the New Zealand National Party in the New Zealand Parliament from 2002 to 2008....

External links

• Electorate Profile Parliamentary Library