The Christchurch Central by-election of 1979 was a by-election

By-election

A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....

 during the 39th New Zealand Parliament

39th New Zealand Parliament

The 39th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand which began with the general election held on 25 November 1978, and finished with the general election held on 28 November 1981...

. It was prompted by the death of Bruce Barclay

Bruce Barclay

Bruce Gillispie Barclay was a New Zealand politician, being the Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central in the South Island.-Member of Parliament:...

, a Labour Party

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....

 MP, and resulted in Geoffrey Palmer, also of the Labour Party, being elected to replace him for the seat of Christchurch Central. Palmer would eventually go on to become Prime Minister

Prime Minister of New Zealand

The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...

. The by-election was somewhat embarrassing for the National Party

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:...

, whose candidate was pushed into third place by Social Credit

Social Credit Party (New Zealand)

The New Zealand Social Credit Party was a political party which served as the country's "third party" from the 1950s through into the 1980s. The party held a number of seats in the New Zealand Parliament, although never more than two at a time...

's Terry Heffernan

Terry Heffernan

Terry Heffernan was a New Zealand politician who stood for Parliament on eight separate occasions. Heffernan was originally a member of the Social Credit Party before joining the New Zealand First Party and later, the New Zealand National Party.-Early years:He was born in Oamaru and attended St...

.