1970 Marlborough by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 April 2022 1970 Marlborough by-election New Zealand 1970 presidential 1969 New Zealand general election 1969 general 1972 New Zealand general election 1972 general 1970 02 21 y 14,730 (78.31%) 100px Ian Brooks New Zealand Labour Party 7,060 47.93 100px Andy Shand New Zealand National Party 6,017 40.85 MP Tom Shand New Zealand National Party Ian Brooks New Zealand Labour Party The Marlborough by-election of 1970 was a by-election for the electorate of Marlborough, held on 21 February 1970New Zealand Official Yearbook 1970 p1137 Wood G. A. Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament 2 1987 1996 University of Otago Press Dunedin 1 877133 00 0 113 during the 30th New Zealand Parliament. Background The by-election resulted from the death of Tom Shand on 11 December 1969, only 12 days after he (and the government) had been re-elected on 29 November; and the new National candidate was defeated by the greatest swing against a government since the 1935 general election, in what was a largely rural electorate generally regarded a safe National seat. Tom Shand had held the seat from 1946, when he defeated Labour’s Ted Meachen. Candidates Labour The Labour Party selected Ian Brooks as their candidate. In 1969 he had stood in the electorate.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700127.2.89 Labour Choice Of Candidate The Press 27 January 1970 32206 CX 13 National There were five nominees who came forward for the National Party candidacy:https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700109.2.6 Five Seek Nomination The Press 9 January 1970 32191 CX 1 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700110.2.89 Five Wanted to Stand The Press 10 January 1970 32192 CX 10 Bruno Dalliessi, the Mayor of Picton R. J. Doak, a farmer from Amberley who was National's 1969 campaign manager in Rangiora R. W. Palmer, a farmer from Wairau Valley Norra Woodbane Pomare, a farmer from Wellington who was National's candidate for Southern Maori in 1969 Anthony "Andy" Shand, a farmer and member of the Kaikoura County Council – son of the previous member Shand was chosen to contest the seat at the party selection committee meeting.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700115.2.107 Mr Shand's Son to Contest By-election The Press 15 January 1970 32196 CX 12 Social Credit There were two candidates for the Social Credit Party nomination:https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700112.2.70 Social Credit Nominations The Press 12 January 1970 32193 CX 8 George Kerr, a farmer from Seddon Jeremy Woodhall, a registered surveyor from Blenheim Kerr was selected. It was the seventh consecutive time he had contested the seat, having done so at every previous election since 1954.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700114.2.198 Candidate Chosen The Press 14 January 1970 32195 CX 26 Campaign The vote for Tom Shand had been close in 1966. Labour only decided that the seat was winnable in January, and sent in two MPs Arthur Faulkner and Colin Moyle to organise the campaign. Labour's candidate, Brooks, was local; he was a senior clerk in the Picton manual telephone exchange and also had a small farm. The seat was largely rural, but Brooks polled particularly well in Picton, and well in the other two population centres, Blenheim and Kaikōura. At the end of the campaign there was some criticism of Andy Shand for frequent "butting-in" during a combined television broadcast appearance for all the candidates on Wednesday 17 February.Marlborough By-election The Dominion 3 20 February 1970 Results The following table gives the election results: The election-night margin to Labour of 1131 was so great that the final result was not expected to change when special votes, which generally tended to go to National, were counted. Labour wins Marlborough By-election The Dominion 3 23 February 1970 There were 32 informal votes.Norton 1988 274, 410 George Chapman was the Wellington National Party chairman. He heard reports that all was not well in the campaign, the party was in deep trouble, and that Labour was making an all-out effort. But he found that party president Ned Holt was complacent about the by-election; saying that everything was in order, and that in any case National's majority in Marlborough was big enough to absorb any setback. But on by-election night Labour inflicted a stunning defeat on National, reducing the Government majority from six to four, and shaking party confidence. Chapman became the leader for change in the organisation, resulting in his nomination for party president in 1971, although he did not become president until 1973. Chapman George The Years of Lightning George Chapman (party president) 1980 AH & AW Reed Wellington 0-589-01346-7 44–45 Despite winning a surprise victory in 1969, National was so embarrassed from the by-election defeat it triggered the media to seriously speculate about Prime Minister Keith Holyoake's retirement.Wood G. A. 5H33 Holyoake, Keith Jacka 30 October 2012 Notes References Norton Clifford New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science 1988 Victoria University of Wellington Wellington 0-475-11200-8 Marlborough 1970 Category:1970 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the Marlborough District Category:February 1970 in Oceania