sitting of the New Zealand Parliament. The governing
made gains. The election also saw the elimination of the
(formerly the Social Credit Party) from Parliament, leaving Labour and National as the only parties represented.
Before the election, the Labour Party (in government) held 56 seats, giving it an absolute majority in Parliament. The National Party (in opposition) held 37 seats. The Democrats, a small party devoted to the principles of
Of particular importance in the election were the economic reforms being undertaken by
. These reforms, sometimes known as "
approaches to controlling inflation, the sale of state assets, and the removal of
. All these things were strongly opposed by many traditional Labour supporters, who saw them as a betrayal of the party's left-wing principles. Many commentators believed that public anger over Rogernomics could cost the government the election.
Another matter of importance, and perhaps one which enabled Labour to survive public dissatisfaction, was the nuclear issue. In the previous parliamentary term, New Zealand had adopted legislation which prevented nuclear weapons or nuclear-powered ships entering New Zealand, a move which provoked an angry reaction from New Zealand's allies in the
treaty. The National Party intended to revoke the ban, but the New Zealand public were supportive of it. Labour's support for the ban is often considered to be an important factor in the party's re-election.
The election was held on 15 August. 2,114,656 people were registered to vote. Turnout was 89.1%, somewhat lower than the 1984 election.
The election saw the Labour Party win 57 seats, enough for it to retain its outright majority. Labour held one more seat than after the previous election. The National Party won 40 seats, an increase of three. It was possible for both parties to increase their number of seats partly due to the disappearance of the Democrats and partly due to the increase in the total number of seats.
Although Labour emerged from the election with a 17-seat lead over National, the difference between each party's vote count was considerably smaller. Labour's share of the vote was 48.0% (up from 43.0% in 1984), while National's was 44.0% (up from 35.5%). While Labour did retain its lead, the gap between Labour and National closed by a larger extent than the seat count would indicate.
The Democrats, despite winning 5.7% of the total vote, did not win any electorates, including the two that they had held before the election. The Democrats have not regained parliamentary representation under their own name since losing it in these elections, although they did manage to enter parliament as part of the larger
, which had gained 12.2% of the vote in the previous election, performed poorly, gaining less than 0.1% support.
The election night result for Wairarapa was for National by 65 votes. The final official count however gave the seat to the incumbent,
of the Labour Party, by a margin of seven votes, although a Judicial Recount reduced this to only one vote. But on 12 July 1988, following a petition to the Electoral Court,
of the National Party was declared elected by a margin of 34 votes (9994 to 9960). The petition was supported initially by MPs
(who had been involved in challenges in Taupo and Hunua) but not by the party hierarchy, according to Creech’s account in a book by
There were 97 seats being contested, two more than were in the previous parliament. All seats were won by one of the two major parties.
The Labour Party, which was in government, won 57 seats, giving it a majority. Most of the seats won by Labour were in urban areas, following the party's typical pattern. Labour was particularly strong in the
region, where it won all ten urban seats. It was also strong in Auckland,
. Labour also retained its traditional dominance in the Maori seats, winning all four by large margins.
The National Party, also following its traditional patters, was strongest in rural areas, winning the vast majority of seats in these regions. The party's primary wins in urban areas were in Auckland, with the party taking six seats. The party also won a number of seats in smaller cities, such as
. The party performed poorly in the Maori electorates, coming third in all four.
While no minor parties managed to win an electorate, several did manage to gain second place, outperforming one of the major parties but being defeated by the other. The
(formerly Social Credit) was the strongest of the minor parties, coming second in five electorates. Two electorates, East Coast Bays and Pakuranga, were held by the Democrats prior to the election, but were narrowly lost to National candidates. In the other electorates (Coromandel, Rangitikei and Wanganui) the Democrats were the challengers. In the four Maori electorates, the
party gained second place. Its best result, 31.6%, was obtained in Northern Maori. The
also performed strongly in some electorates, although not as strongly as in the previous election.
Independent candidates did not perform well in the 1987 election, with none of them winning a seat or even placing second.
| MPs Elected in 1987 |
Papatoetoe: Ross RobertsonHarold Valentine Ross Robertson is a New Zealand politician for the Labour Party. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1987.-Early life:Robertson was born in Wellington...
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Titirangi: Ralph MaxwellRalph Kerr Maxwell was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the electorate of Waitakere in Parliament from 1978 to 1984, then Titirangi from 1984 to 1990, when he was defeated by Marie Hasler, one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour...
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Albany: Don McKinnonSir Donald Charles "Don" McKinnon, ONZ, GCVO is a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. He was the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations from 2000 until 2008.-Early life:...
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Gisborne: Allan WallbankAllan Robert Wallbank was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the electorate of Gisborne in Parliament from 1984 to 1990. He was defeated by Wayne Kimber; one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government.-References:...
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Maramarua: Bill BirchSir William Francis Birch, GNZM , usually known as Bill Birch, is a former New Zealand politician. He served as Minister of Finance for several years in the fourth National government.-Early life:...
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Pencarrow: Sonja Davies |
Tongariro: Noel ScottNoel Scott, QSO was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the electorate of Tongariro in Parliament from 1984 to 1990, when he was defeated by Ian Peters, one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government.-References:New Zealand Parliamentary...
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Ashburton: Jenny ShipleyDame 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...
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Glenfield: Judy KeallJudith Mary Keall is a former New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1984 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 2002, representing the Labour Party....
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Marlborough: Doug KiddSir Douglas Lorimer Kidd, KNZM is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1978 to 2002, representing the National Party. He served for three years as Speaker of the House of Representatives.-Early life:...
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Porirua: Graham KellyGraham Kelly is a former New Zealand politician.-Member of Parliament:As a member of the Labour Party, he served as MP for Porirua from the 1987 elections until the 1996 elections, when he became MP for the new seat of Mana. In the 2002 elections, he did not stand as an electorate candidate,...
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Waikaremoana: Roger McClayRoger Neville McClay, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He attended secondary school at Wesley College, Auckland.-Member of Parliament:...
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Auckland Central: Richard PrebbleRichard William Prebble CBE, born 7 February 1948, was for many years a member of the New Zealand Parliament. Initially a member of the Labour Party, he joined the newly formed ACT New Zealand party under Roger Douglas in 1996.-Early and personal life:...
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Hamilton East: Bill Dillon |
Matamata: John LuxtonMurray John Finlay Luxton, QSO is a former New Zealand National Party politician, and a son of Jack Luxton who had previously held the same seat of Matamata...
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Raglan: Simon UptonSimon David Upton, QSO is a former New Zealand politician and member of Parliament from 1981 to 2001, representing the National Party.-Early life:...
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Waikato: Rob StoreyWilliam Robson "Rob" Storey, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1996, representing the National Party. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1984 elections as MP for Waikato, and retained that seat until his departure from Parliament at the 1996 elections...
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Avon: Larry SutherlandLarry Walter Sutherland was a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1987 to 1999, representing the Labour Party. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1987 elections as MP for the Christchurch seat of Avon, replacing the retiring Mary Batchelor...
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Hamilton West: Trevor MallardTrevor Colin Mallard is a New Zealand politician. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand holding portfolios including Environment, Labour, Broadcasting, State Owned Enterprises, Rugby World Cup and Education. He was also Associate Minister of Finance.-Early...
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Miramar: Peter Neilson |
Rangiora: Jim GerardRichard James Gerard is a former New Zealand politician. He was a National Party member of parliament from 1984 to 1997.-Member of Parliament:...
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Waipa: Katherine O'ReganHon Katherine O'Regan , QSO is a former New Zealand politician. She was a MP from 1984 to 1999, representing the National Party She served as a Minister for the National Government for 6 of those years. Katherine was born to farming parents at Te Mata, on the west coast of the North Island and...
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Awarua: Jeff GrantJeff Grant was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the Southland electorate of Awarua in Parliament from 1987 to 1993, when he was replaced by Eric Roy....
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Hastings: David ButcherDavid John Butcher is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the electorate of Hastings in Parliament from 1978 to 1990, when he was defeated by Jeff Whitaker: one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government...
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Mount Albert: Helen ClarkHelen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
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Rangitikei: Dennis Marshall |
Wairarapa: Wyatt CreechWyatt Beetham Creech, CNZM is a former New Zealand politician. He served as Deputy Prime Minister in Jenny Shipley's National Party government from August 1998 to December 1999.-Early life:...
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Bay of Islands: John CarterJohn McGregor Carter is a New Zealand politician, and member of the National Party. He represented the Bay of Islands, Far North and Northland electorates from 1987 until June 2011...
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Hawkes Bay: Bill Sutton |
Napier: Geoff BraybrookeGeoffrey Bernard Braybrooke, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1981 to 2002, representing the Labour Party. He was one of the party's more conservative MPs.-Early years:...
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Remuera: Doug GrahamSir Douglas Arthur Montrose "Doug" Graham KNZM is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1999, representing the National Party.-Early life:...
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Waitaki: Jim SuttonJames Robert Sutton, CNZM , generally known as Jim Sutton, was a New Zealand politician from 1984–1990 and from 1993–2006. He has held a range of ministerial portfolios including Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Affairs, Biosecurity, and Trade Negotiations.-Biography:Sutton was born in...
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Birkenhead: Jenny Kirk |
Heretaunga: Bill JeffriesWilliam Patrick "Bill" Jeffries was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the Heretaunga electorate from 1981 to 1990, when he was defeated by a National candidate in a swing against Labour....
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Nelson: Philip WoollastonHon Philip Tosswill Edmond Woollaston was a New Zealand member of Parliament of the Labour Party from 1981 to 1990 and Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1992 to 1998....
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Roskill: Phil GoffPhilip Bruce Goff is the current Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. During the Fifth Labour Government, he served in a number of ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Defence of New Zealand, Minister of Corrections, Minister of Foreign Affairs and...
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Waitotara: Venn YoungVenn Spearman Young was a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the National Party, and served as a Cabinet Minister in the government of Robert Muldoon. He is known for his failed attempt to legalise "homosexual acts" in 1975.-Early life:Young was born in Stratford, Taranaki...
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Christchurch Central: Geoffrey Palmer |
Hobson: Ross MeurantAlan Ross Meurant is a New Zealand public figure who has at various times gained public attention as a police officer, a businessman, a politician, and a political lobbyist.- Police :...
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New Lynn: Jonathan HuntJonathan Lucas Hunt, ONZ is a New Zealand politician, and was New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2005 to March 2008. He formerly served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was until recently the longest-serving MP...
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Rotorua: Paul EastPaul Clayton East, CNZM, QC, is a former New Zealand politician.-Early life:Paul East was educated at King's College and The University of Auckland He was a Member of Parliament from 1978 to 1999, representing the National Party....
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Wallace: Derek AngusDerek Alan Angus was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the Wallace electorate in Parliament from 1981 to 1990, when he retired. He was replaced by Bill English.-Further reading:...
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Christchurch North: Mike Moore |
Horowhenua: Annette KingAnnette Faye King is a New Zealand politician. She is the current Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the New Zealand. She was a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand.-Early life:...
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New Plymouth: Harry DuynhovenHarry James Duynhoven is a New Zealand politician. He is the current mayor of the city of New Plymouth and surrounding districts. He assumed office in October 2010. He was a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party.-Early life:...
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St Albans: David CaygillDavid Caygill, CBE is a former New Zealand politician. After being New Zealand's youngest city councillor at 22 , he was an MP from 1978 to 1996, representing the Labour Party...
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Wanganui: Russell MarshallCedric Russell Marshall, CNZM was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, who had been a Methodist minister from 1960 to 1972, and school teacher 1955–56 and 1972.-Member of Parliament:...
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Clevedon: Warren KydWarren Kyd is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1987 to 2002, representing the National Party. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1987 elections, becoming MP for Clevedon. He held this seat until the 1993 elections, when he became MP for Hauraki. In the 1996 elections, he...
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Invercargill: Rob MunroRob Munro was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the Invercargill electorate in Parliament from 1987, when he replaced Norman Jones to 1993, when he was defeated by Mark Peck.-References:...
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North Shore: George GairGeorge Frederick Gair, CMG, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was once deputy leader of the National Party in the Parliament of New Zealand, and was considered by many to be a possible contender for the leadership itself...
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St Kilda: Michael Cullen |
Wellington Central: Fran WildeThe Honorable Fran Wilde QSO , is a New Zealand politician, and former Wellington Labour MP, Minister of Tourism and 31st Mayor of Wellington...
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Clutha: Robin GraySir Robert "Robin" McDowall Gray is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1978 to 1996, and served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 1990 and 1993.-Early life:Gray was born in Borgue, Scotland...
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Island Bay: Elizabeth TennetElizabeth Patricia Tennet is a former New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1987 to 1996, representing the Labour Party. She was first elected to Parliament in the 1987 elections as MP for the Wellington electorate of Island Bay, and retained this seat until her departure from Parliament at...
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Ohariu: Peter DunnePeter Dunne is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament who leads the United Future political party. He has served as a Cabinet minister in governments dominated by the centre-left Labour Party as well as by the centre-right National Party...
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Selwyn: Ruth RichardsonRuth Richardson served as New Zealand's Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993, and is known for her strong pursuit of free-market economic reforms .-Early life:...
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West Auckland: Jack ElderJack Arnold Elder is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1999, representing first the Labour Party, then New Zealand First, and then Mauri Pacific.-Early life:...
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Coromandel: Graeme LeeGraeme Ernest Lee, MZNM, JP is a former New Zealand politician. Originally a National Party MP, he broke away to found the Christian Democrat Party.-Member of Parliament:...
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Kaimai: Robert AndersonRobert Arnold Anderson is a former New Zealand politician. He was a National Party MP from 1987 to 1996. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1987 elections as MP for Kaimai, replacing Bruce Townshend....
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Onehunga: Fred GerbicFrederick "Fred" Miroslav Gerbic, MBE was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.-Member of Parliament:He was elected in the ensuing by-election to replace Frank Rogers in the seat of Onehunga when Rogers died in 1980. He retired in 1990, when he was defeated by National's Graham...
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Sydenham: Jim AndertonJames 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...
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West Coast: Thomas BurkeSir Thomas Kerry Burke served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1987 to 1990. He was a member of the Labour Party, and served throughout the second term of the Fourth Labour Government.-Early life:...
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Dunedin North: Stan RodgerStanley Joseph Rodger was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the electorate of Dunedin North in Parliament from 1978 to 1990, when he retired and was replaced by Pete Hodgson. He was the Minister of Labour and formerly employed by the Public Service Association...
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Kaipara: Lockwood SmithAlexander Lockwood Smith is a New Zealand politician, the 28th and current Speaker of the House of Representatives. Smith is a member of the New Zealand National Party, who has served as a Member of Parliament since 1984...
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Otago: Warren CooperWarren Cooper QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was a National Party MP from 1975 to 1996, holding cabinet positions including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence. Cooper also twice served as Mayor of Queenstown, from 1968 to 1975 and 1995 to 2001.-Early life:Cooper was...
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Tamaki: Robert MuldoonSir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
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Western Hutt: John TerrisJohn James Terris, QSO is a New Zealand politician, priest and broadcaster who represented the Labour Party in the New Zealand parliament.-Member of Parliament :Terris was first elected as the member of Western Hutt in 1978...
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Dunedin West: Clive MatthewsonClive Denby Matthewson MNZM , is a former New Zealand politician.Matthewson was originally a member of the Labour Party, representing the Dunedin West seat. He left Labour in 1995 to jointly establish the United New Zealand party with six other sitting MPs...
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Kapiti: Margaret ShieldsDame Margaret Kerslake Shields, DNZM, QSO, JP is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.She represented the electorate of Kapiti in Parliament from 1981 to 1990, when she was defeated by Roger Sowry, one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government...
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Otara: Colin MoyleColin James Moyle, CBE is a former politician of the New Zealand Labour Party. He was a Government Minister in the Third Labour and Fourth Labour Governments. In the Fourth Labour Government he oversaw the removal of farming subsidies and the establishment of a fisheries quota system.-Early...
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Taranaki: Roger MaxwellRoger Francis Hamilton Maxwell, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1999, representing the National Party.He was first elected to Parliament in the 1984 elections as MP for Taranaki, succeeding David Thomson...
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Whangarei: John BanksJohn Archibald Banks, CNZM QSO is a New Zealand politician. He served as Mayor of Auckland City for two terms, from 2001 to 2004, and from 2007 to 2010...
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East Cape: Anne FraserLowson Anne Fraser née Collins was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.-Parliamentary career:She represented the electorate of East Cape in Parliament from 1984 to 1990. She retired from Parliament in 1990...
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King Country: Jim BolgerJames Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
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Pahiatua: John FalloonJohn Howard Falloon was a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1977 to 1996, representing the National Party in the Pahiatua electorate....
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Tarawera: Ian McLeanIan McLean was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the Tarawera electorate from the 1978 general election to 1990, when he retired and was replaced by Max Bradford.-References:...
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Yaldhurst: Margaret AustinMargaret Elizabeth Austin, CNZM is a former New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1984 to 1996, representing first the Labour Party and then United New Zealand....
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East Coast Bays: Murray McCullyMurray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
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Lyttelton: Peter Simpson |
Pakuranga: Maurice WilliamsonMaurice Donald Williamson is a New Zealand politician, representing Pakuranga in the House of Representatives as a member of the National Party...
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Tasman: Ken ShirleyKenneth Lex Shirley , generally called Ken Shirley, was a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the ACT New Zealand party, although was previously a member and Cabinet minister of the Labour Party.-Member of Parliament:...
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Eastern Maori: Peter TapsellSir Peter Wilfred Tapsell, KNZM, MBE, FRCS, FRCSEd was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996...
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Eastern Hutt: Trevor YoungTrevor James Young was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the electorate of Hutt in Parliament from 1968 to 1978, and then the Eastern Hutt electorate from 1978 to 1990, when he was replaced by Paul Swain....
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Manawatu: David Robinson |
Palmerston North: Trevor De CleeneTrevor Albert de Cleene was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and a lawyer.-Member of Parliament:He represented the Palmerston North electorate in Parliament from 1981 to 1990....
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Tauranga: Winston PetersWinston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being...
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Northern Maori: Bruce GregoryBruce Craig Gregory was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.Gregory won the , which was caused by the resignation of the previous incumbent, Matiu Rata and held the seat until 1993, when Tau Henare won the seat for New Zealand First.-References:New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984...
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Eden: Richard NortheyRichard John Northey, ONZM is a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996. He currently serves on the Auckland Council, and is a member of the Labour Party.-Member of Parliament:...
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Mangere: David LangeDavid Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a...
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Panmure: Bob Tizard |
Te Atatu: Michael BassettMichael Edward Rainton Bassett, QSO is a former Labour Party member of the New Zealand House of Representatives and cabinet minister in the reformist fourth Labour government...
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Southern Maori: Whetu Tirikatene-SullivanTini "Whetu" Marama Tirikatene-Sullivan, ONZ was a New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1967 to 1996, representing the Labour Party. At the time of her retirement, she was the second longest-serving MP in Parliament, being in her tenth term of office...
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Fendalton: Philip BurdonPhilip Burdon is a former New Zealand politician and lawyer by profession. He is also part owner of Meadow Mushrooms. He was an MP from 1981 to 1996, representing the National Party...
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Manurewa: Roger DouglasSir Roger Owen Douglas , is a New Zealand politician who formerly served as a senior New Zealand Labour Party Cabinet minister. He became arguably best-known for his prominent role in the radical economic restructuring undertaken by the Fourth Labour Government during the 1980s...
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Papakura: Merv WellingtonMervyn Langlois "Merv" Wellington, QSO was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.-Member of Parliament:...
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Timaru: Maurice McTigueMaurice Patrick McTigue, QSO was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Fourth National Government from 1990 to 1993, holding the Employment portfolio, among others....
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Western Maori: Koro WetereKoro Tainui Wētere, CBE is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1969 to 1996, representing the Labour Party. He served as Minister of Māori Affairs in the Fourth Labour Government .-Member of Parliament:...
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