Rangitata
Encyclopedia
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. It is held by Jo Goodhew
of the National
Party, who was previously MP of the Aoraki electorate.
, who held the electorate until the end of the term in 1890, when the electorate was abolished again. The electorate was re-established for the and won by William Maslin
, who served until the end of the parliamentary term in 1896. The electorate was again abolished at the end of that term.
The present electorate, established for the , consists of the old Aoraki electorate, and those parts of the old Rakaia electorate
not included in the Selwyn electorate
.
It was created after a review of electoral boundaries conducted in the wake of the 2006 census of population and dwellings
, which showed that there has been a general northwards population movement. Even though the number of South Island electorates is fixed, the decline in the population of electorates from Rakaia south has resulted in the boundaries of electorates from Invercargill north to Rakaia shifting northwards.
Electorate (as at 11 November 2011): 47,712
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 Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand. It first existed for two parliamentary terms in the late 19ths century and was re-established for the 2008 general election
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...
. It largely replaces the Aoraki electorate, but includes parts of the Rakaia electorate
Rakaia (New Zealand electorate)
Rakaia was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury region from 1972 to 1978 and 1993 to 2008.The seat was held by Brian Connell MP from 2002 to 2008.-Population Centres:The electorate included the following population centres:* Ashburton...
as well. It is held by 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...
of the 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:...
Party, who was previously MP of the Aoraki electorate.
Population centres
The electorate includes the following population centres (with approximate populations in brackets):- AshburtonAshburton, New ZealandAshburton 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...
(17,700) - MethvenMethven, New ZealandMethven is a small town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located near the western edge of the Canterbury Plains, 35 kilometres north of Ashburton. It was originally the railhead of a short branch railway off the Main South Line...
(1300) - RakaiaRakaiaThe 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...
(1000) - TemukaTemukaTemuka is a town on New Zealand's Canterbury Plains, 15 kilometres north of Timaru and 142 km south of Christchurch. It is located at the centre of a rich sheep and dairy farming region, for which it is a service town.-History:...
(4000) - TimaruTimaruTimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
(42,800)
History
The Rangitata electorate was first established for the . The first representative was Searby BuxtonSearby Buxton
Searby Buxton was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand.He represented the Rangitata electorate from 1887 to 1890, when he was defeated in the Geraldine electorate by Arthur Rhodes. He represented the Liberal Opposition, and lost with 671 votes to Rhodes' 994, despite an...
, who held the electorate until the end of the term in 1890, when the electorate was abolished again. The electorate was re-established for the and won by William Maslin
William Maslin
William Stephen Maslin was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He was elected to the Rangitata electorate in the 1893 general election, but retired in 1896.He stood for Geraldine in 1902 and Ashburton in 1914....
, who served until the end of the parliamentary term in 1896. The electorate was again abolished at the end of that term.
The present electorate, established for the , consists of the old Aoraki electorate, and those parts of the old Rakaia electorate
Rakaia (New Zealand electorate)
Rakaia was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury region from 1972 to 1978 and 1993 to 2008.The seat was held by Brian Connell MP from 2002 to 2008.-Population Centres:The electorate included the following population centres:* Ashburton...
not included in the Selwyn electorate
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...
.
It was created after a review of electoral boundaries conducted in the wake of the 2006 census of population and dwellings
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, which showed that there has been a general northwards population movement. Even though the number of South Island electorates is fixed, the decline in the population of electorates from Rakaia south has resulted in the boundaries of electorates from Invercargill north to Rakaia shifting northwards.
Members of Parliament for Rangitata
Key| Election | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| Searby Buxton Searby Buxton Searby Buxton was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand.He represented the Rangitata electorate from 1887 to 1890, when he was defeated in the Geraldine electorate by Arthur Rhodes. He represented the Liberal Opposition, and lost with 671 votes to Rhodes' 994, despite an... |
||
| (Electorate abolished 1890–1893) | ||
| William Maslin William Maslin William Stephen Maslin was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He was elected to the Rangitata electorate in the 1893 general election, but retired in 1896.He stood for Geraldine in 1902 and Ashburton in 1914.... |
||
| (Electorate abolished 1896–2008) | ||
| 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... |
||
Candidates in the
|}Electorate (as at 11 November 2011): 47,712