Wigram (New Zealand electorate)
Encyclopedia
Wigram is a New Zealand
Parliamentary electorate
, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand
House of Representatives
. The current MP for Wigram is Megan Woods
. She takes over this position from the retiring Jim Anderton
, who held this position from 1996
until 2011.
. The main suburbs in the seat are Spreydon
, Riccarton
, Hornby
and Sockburn. Prior to a boundary review in 2007, it also contained Sydenham
but this has been moved into Port Hills
, with Wigram gaining Addington
at the expense of Christchurch Central
. The electorate's name comes from the suburb of Wigram
, and by extension the former Wigram Aerodrome
, itself named after colonial businessman Sir Henry Wigram
.
to 1978, when it was held by Mick Connelly
for Labour.
Wigram was one of the original sixty-five Mixed Member Proportional electorates created ahead of the 1996 election
, when the number of South Island seats was reduced to sixteen. The formerly safe Labour
seat of Sydenham
lies at Wigram's core, and Labour's strong showing in the party vote in both 2002
and 2005
, where the party won nearly half of all party votes cast, indicates that Wigram's political inclinations are with the Labour Party. Its current MP Jim Anderton was himself the Labour MP for Sydenham between 1984
and 1989, before he split from the party over its political directions and formed the NewLabour Party
, which later merged into the Alliance
; the Alliance disintegrated in 2002, but Anderton, now leader of the Progressive Party
held off all challengers to easily hold the seat.
Key
>
Electorate (as at 11 November 2011): 44,563
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...
, returning one Member of Parliament to the 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...
House of Representatives
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
. The current MP for Wigram is Megan Woods
Megan Woods
Megan Woods is the Labour Party candidate for the 2011 election in the Wigram electorate of the New Zealand Parliament.-Early life:Woods was born and grew up in Wigram, Christchurch...
. She takes over this position from the retiring Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton
James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest...
, who held this position from 1996
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
until 2011.
Population centres
Wigram is based around south-western ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. The main suburbs in the seat are Spreydon
Spreydon
Spreydon is a middle-class suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. The most central street through Spreydon is Lyttelton Street. Spreydon is flanked by the suburbs Barrington, Hoon Hay, Riccarton, and Lower Cashmere....
, Riccarton
Riccarton, New Zealand
Riccarton is a suburb of Christchurch. It is due west of the city centre, separated from it by Hagley Park. Upper Riccarton is to the west of Riccarton.-History:...
, Hornby
Hornby, New Zealand
Hornby is a major residential and retail suburb at the western edge of Christchurch, New Zealand.-Naming and history:Hornby was apparently named by Frederick William Delamain, who came to Christchurch from England in 1852. The name reportedly refers to Hornby-with-Farleton in Lancashire...
and Sockburn. Prior to a boundary review in 2007, it also contained Sydenham
Sydenham, New Zealand
Sydenham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located two kilometres south of the city centre, on and around the city’s main street, Colombo Street...
but this has been moved into Port Hills
Port Hills (New Zealand electorate)
Port Hills is a new electorate of New Zealand created for the 2008 general election. It largely replaces the Banks Peninsula electorate, held by Ruth Dyson...
, with Wigram gaining Addington
Addington, New Zealand
Addington is a major suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is sited south-west of the city centre.-Description:The suburb was named for the country residence of Bishop John Sumner, one of the leading members of the Canterbury Association....
at the expense of Christchurch Central
Christchurch Central
Christchurch Central is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the South Island city of Christchurch. The electorate was established for the 1946 election and has always been won by the Labour Party. Since 2008, the incumbent is Brendon Burns...
. The electorate's name comes from the suburb of Wigram
Wigram
Wigram is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. Technically called Wigram Park, the second half of its name is rarely if ever heard. The suburb lies close to the industrial estates of Sockburn and the satellite retail and residential zone of Hornby...
, and by extension the former Wigram Aerodrome
Wigram Aerodrome
Wigram Aerodrome is a former Royal New Zealand Air Force base located in the Christchurch suburb of Wigram. It is named after Sir Henry Wigram. Originally home to the RNZAF Central Flying School , it was decommissioned in 1995 following the CFS' relocation to RNZAF Ohakea two years earlier.Wigram...
, itself named after colonial businessman Sir Henry Wigram
Henry Wigram
Sir Henry Francis Wigram was a British-born New Zealand businessman, politician and aviation promoter. He is best known for his role in developing a public transport system in Christchurch and as a key player in the establishment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.-Early life and business:The son...
.
History
The electorate had previously existed from 1969New Zealand general election, 1969
The 1969 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 36th term. It saw the governing National Party win a fourth consecutive term, under Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.-The Election:...
to 1978, when it was held by Mick Connelly
Mick Connelly
Michael Anysley Connelly was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and a Cabinet Minister from 1972 to 1975 in the Third Labour Government...
for Labour.
Wigram was one of the original sixty-five Mixed Member Proportional electorates created ahead of the 1996 election
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, when the number of South Island seats was reduced to sixteen. The formerly safe 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....
seat of Sydenham
Sydenham (New Zealand electorate)
Sydenham was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1881 to 1890 and again from 1946 to 1996. It had notable politicians representing it like Mabel Howard , Norman Kirk and Jim Anderton .This...
lies at Wigram's core, and Labour's strong showing in the party vote in both 2002
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
and 2005
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
, where the party won nearly half of all party votes cast, indicates that Wigram's political inclinations are with the Labour Party. Its current MP Jim Anderton was himself the Labour MP for Sydenham between 1984
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
and 1989, before he split from the party over its political directions and formed the NewLabour Party
NewLabour Party (New Zealand)
NewLabour was a left-of-centre party founded in 1989 by Jim Anderton, an MP and former President of the New Zealand Labour Party.NewLabour was established by a number of Labour Party members who left the party in reaction to "Rogernomics", the economic policies implemented by the Labour Party's...
, which later merged into the Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
; the Alliance disintegrated in 2002, but Anderton, now leader of the Progressive Party
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
held off all challengers to easily hold the seat.
Members of Parliament for Wigram
Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and started at general elections.Key
| Election | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| Mick Connelly Mick Connelly Michael Anysley Connelly was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and a Cabinet Minister from 1972 to 1975 in the Third Labour Government... |
||
| (Electorate abolished 1978–1996) | ||
| Jim Anderton Jim Anderton James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest... |
||
| Megan Woods Megan Woods Megan Woods is the Labour Party candidate for the 2011 election in the Wigram electorate of the New Zealand Parliament.-Early life:Woods was born and grew up in Wigram, Christchurch... |
||
Candidates in the
|}Retired incumbent
Electorate (as at 11 November 2011): 44,563
2008 election
2005 election
External links
- Electorate Profile Parliamentary Library