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1978 New Zealand general election
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
General election in New Zealand
April 2024
April 2018
1978 New Zealand general election New Zealand parliamentary no 1975 New Zealand general election 1975 38th New Zealand Parliament 1981 New Zealand general election 1981 40th New Zealand Parliament 92 seats in the Parliament 47 1978 11 25 y members Robert Muldoon (blue background).jpg Robert Muldoon 9 July 1974 New Zealand National Party Tamaki 55 seats, 47.6% 54 51 3 680,991 39.8% 7.8% Bill Rowling, 1974 (crop).jpg Bill Rowling 6 September 1974 New Zealand Labour Party Tasman 32 seats, 39.6% 32 40 8 691,076 40.4% 0.8% Bruce Craig Beetham (cropped).jpg Bruce Beetham 14 May 1972 Social Credit Party (New Zealand) Rangitīkei 0 seats, 7.4% 1 1 274,756 16.1% 8.7% 1978 New Zealand general election.svg 350px Results by electorate, shaded by winning margin Prime Minister Subsequent Prime Minister Robert Muldoon Robert Muldoon New Zealand National Party New Zealand National Party
The 1978 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to elect the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, retain office, but the opposition Labour Party won the largest share of the vote. Reorganisation of the enrolment system caused major problems with the electoral rolls, which left a legacy of unreliable information about voting levels in this election.
Background
The National Party had won a resounding victory in the 1975 elections, taking fifty-five of the eighty-seven seats and ousting the Labour Party from government. Labour had been led by Bill Rowling, who had assumed the post of Prime Minister on the death in office of the popular Norman Kirk. Labour won the remaining thirty-two seats in that election, with no other parties gaining entry to Parliament.
Labour's Rowling had been criticised by many for inadequately countering Muldoon's confrontational style, and was widely perceived as "weak". Following Labour's defeat, there had been speculation about replacing Rowling as leader of the party, but Rowling retained his position. Gradually, as some people wearied of Muldoon's style, Rowling's more reserved manner was held up as an asset rather than a weakness, and Labour began to gain a certain amount of traction again. Economic troubles hurt the government, and its reputation had fallen. Muldoon remained a powerful opponent, however, and was regarded as a strong campaigner.
Not long before the 1978 election, a by-election in Rangitikei caused considerable comment when it introduced a third party to Parliament: Bruce Beetham, leader of the Social Credit Party. Although other parties dismissed Social Credit's success as a fluke, Beetham predicted a great future for the party.
MPs retiring in 1978
Five National MPs and three Labour MPs intended to retire at the end of the 38th Parliament.
Party Name Electorate Term of office Date announced National Peter Gordon Clutha 1960–78 28 October 1977https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19771029.2.10 Mr Gordon to call it a day The Press 29 October 1977 1 Allan McCready Manawatu 1960–78 8 August 1977https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19770809.2.10 Minister of Defence to retire The Press 9 August 1977 1 Ed Latter Marlborough 1975–78 18 August 1978https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19780819.2.25 Marlborough's M.P. not standing again The Press 19 August 1978 3 Harry Lapwood Rotorua 1960–78 18 August 1977https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19770819.2.4 Tourism Minister to retire The Press 19 August 1977 1 Ray La Varis Taupo 1975–78 4 November 1977https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19771104.2.86.9 Taupo M.P. to go The Press 4 November 1977 11 Labour Martyn Finlay Henderson 1946–491963–78 25 May 1977Cedric Mentiplay https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19770525.2.11 Dr Finlay to end long stint in Parliament The Press 25 May 1977 1 Roger Drayton St Albans 1969–78 8 September 1977https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19770909.2.17 Tribute paid to retiring M.P. The Press 9 September 1977 2 Paddy Blanchfield West Coast 1960–78 16 July 1977https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19770716.2.124 The man who works for the West The Press 16 July 1977 15
Sir Stanley Whitehead MP for Nelson had announced he would retire at the end of the term in 1978, due to ill-health, but he died on 9 January 1976 triggering a by-election instead.Former Speaker of House is Dead 9 January 1976 The Evening Post 1
Opinion polling
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http://www.polled.co.nz/historicalpollingdata.php Historical Pollling Data 1974–2021 Patrick Leyland
PollDateThese are the survey dates of the poll, or if the survey dates are not stated, the date the poll was released. National Labour Socred Values Lead 1978 election result 25 Nov 1978 39.82 40.41 16.07 2.41 0.59TVNZ Heylen 18 Nov 1978 38 39 20 4 1NBR 1 Nov 1978 44 35 17 3 9TVNZ Heylen 28 Oct 1978 45 38 14 3 7TVNZ Heylen 30 Sep 1978 44 36 17 3 8NBR 1 Sep 1978 44 35 16 4 9TVNZ Heylen 15 Aug 1978 46 39 11 4 7TVNZ Heylen 15 Jul 1978 46 39 12 3 7NBR 1 Jul 1978 47 36 14 3 11TVNZ Heylen 15 Jun 1978 45 37 15 4 8TVNZ Heylen 15 May 1978 43 38 16 4 5NBR 1 May 1978 40 37 16 4 3TVNZ Heylen 15 Apr 1978 39 38 18 5 1TVNZ Heylen 15 Mar 1978 43 33 18 5 10NBR 1 Mar 1978 41 31 22 5 7TVNZ Heylen 15 Feb 1978 45 35 14 6 7NBR 1 Jan 1978 45 37 13 5 8TVNZ Heylen 15 Dec 1977 47 39 8 6 8NBR 1 Nov 1977 48 37 9 5 11TVNZ Heylen 15 Oct 1977 47 40 8 6 7TVNZ Heylen 15 Sep 1977 46 41 7 6 5TVNZ Heylen 15 Aug 1977 48 38 9 6 10TVNZ Heylen 15 Jun 1977 48 43 4 5 5TVNZ Heylen 15 May 1977 47 40 8 5 7TVNZ Heylen 15 Feb 1977 46 37 10 8 9TVNZ Heylen 15 Jun 1976 48 39 8 5 9
Electoral changes
Problems
In 1975 several reforms had been made to the electoral system. These included combining the re-enrolment process with the taking of the 1976 census and replacing existing Justice Department registrars with electorate officers appointed from Post Office Staff. They would work in conjunction with Statistics Department and Electoral Office staff, and at the same time, a switch would be made from a manual to a computerised system.
A report completed in 1979 found that there had been poor liaison between the various departments involved, staff shortages and problems with the computer system. However, the main problem arose from the decision to combine re-enrolment with the 1976 census. Many voters had been confused by the need to re-enrol only a year after the previous election, and many had not bothered to fill out their forms. Census staff had not been given the authority to insist on the card being completed.McRobie 1989 119
To avoid disenfranchising a significant portion of the electorate, the Chief Electoral Officer decided just to carry forward many old voter registrations in the hope that duplications and outdated enrolments would be purged later. However, not enough staff were provided to complete that in time, and by the time that the rolls closed, 35,000 forms remained unprocessed.
It has been estimated that as many as 460,000 enrolments may have been outdated or duplicates. Many voters (even candidates) found themselves enrolled in the wrong electorate or off the roll completely, and others were enrolled in multiple electorates or several times in the same electorate. That means that accurate figures for electoral turnout are impossible to determine, and other figures may not be reliable.Atkinson 2003 187–188, 191–193
Electoral redistribution
The 1977 electoral redistribution was the most overtly political since the Representation Commission had been established by an amendment to the Representation Act in 1886, initiated by Muldoon's National Government.McRobie 1989 8–9, 51, 119 That a large number of people failed to fill out an electoral re-registration card had little practical effect for the electoral redistribution for people on the general roll, but it transferred Māori to the general roll if the card was not handed in. Together with a northward shift of New Zealand's population, that resulted in five new electorates having to be created in the upper part of the North Island.McRobie 1989 119
The electoral redistribution was very disruptive, and 22 electorates were abolished (see list below), and 27 electorates were newly created or re-established. In the North Island, fifteen electorates were newly created (Albany, East Cape, Eastern Hutt, Helensville, Horowhenua, Hunua, Kaimai, Matamata, Ōhāriu, Papakura, Papatoetoe, Pencarrow, Rangiriri, Tarawera, and Te Atatū) and six electorates were re-created (Bay of Islands, Kaipara, Taranaki, Waipa, Waitakere, and Waitotara). In the South Island, two electorates were newly created (Otago and Yaldhurst) and four electorates were re-created (Ashburton, Fendalton, Selwyn, and Waitaki). The changes came into effect for the 1978 election.McRobie 1989 115–120
The election
The election was held on 25 November. There were 2,489,510 people officially registered to vote in the elections, making the election the first one in which there were more than two million registered voters. However, the electoral roll in 1978 was significantly out of date and contained numerous duplicate entries. The cause of this confusion was a major redistribution of electoral boundaries, which had been implemented the year before. The actual number of potential voters is estimated to have been about 2,100,000, and actual turnout is estimated to have been about 80% (as compared to the official turnout of only 68.70%), slightly lower than the turnout for the previous election.
Results
The 1978 election saw the National Party win fifty-one seats in parliament, a majority of several seats. This allowed it to retain power. The Labour Party won forty seats. The Social Credit Party retained the Rangitikei seat, which it had won in a by-election shortly before the election. No other parties won seats, and there were no successful independent candidates.
While National won a majority of seats in parliament, it did not actually win a majority of the vote. Labour received the highest number of votes, winning slightly more than forty percent. National, by contrast, won slightly less than forty percent. Social Credit, despite winning only one seat, actually received around sixteen percent of the vote. The election night result had National with more seats, but many seats had small majorities and it was conceivable that if special votes overturned enough electorates Labour could form a government.Labour's Hopes Get New Boost The New Zealand Herald 5 December 1978 1 Ultimately this did not eventuate however.
While the Hunua electorate was initially won by Malcolm Douglas (Labour), the result was overturned by the High Court and Winston Peters (National) became the MP for Hunua.Wilson 1985 193, 226
Detailed results
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Party totals
centerParty Candidates Total votes Percentage Seats won Change New Zealand National Party92680,99139.8251 -4 New Zealand Labour Party92691,07640.4140 +8 Social Credit Party (New Zealand)92274,75616.071 +1 Values Party9241,2202.410 ±0National Socialist Party of New Zealand1220.00- ±0 Independent politician5322,1301.290 ±0Total4211,710,17392 +5
Votes summary
Popular Vote #ddd 600px 410px Labour New Zealand Labour Party 40.41
National New Zealand National Party 39.82
Social Credit Social Credit Party (New Zealand) 16.07
Values Values Party 2.41
Independents Independent politician 1.29
Parliament seats #ddd 600px 410px National New Zealand National Party 55.43
Labour New Zealand Labour Party 43.48
Social Credit Social Credit Party (New Zealand) 1.09
Results by electorate
The tables below shows the results of the 1978 general election:
Key
New Zealand National Party
New Zealand Labour Party
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Electorate results for the 1978 New Zealand general election
|-
|colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | General electorates
|-
Albany
Don McKinnon
New Zealand National Party
1,159
David Rankin
New Zealand Labour Party
Ashburton
Rob Talbot
New Zealand National Party
3.005
John Srhoy
New Zealand Labour Party
Auckland Central
Richard Prebble
New Zealand Labour Party
5,284
Maire Cole
New Zealand National Party
Avon
Mary Batchelor
New Zealand Labour Party
8,215
Tom George
New Zealand National Party
Awarua
Rex Austin
New Zealand National Party
1,450
Bill Devine
New Zealand Labour Party
Bay of Islands
Neill Austin
New Zealand National Party
1,682
William Guy McPherson
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Birkenhead
Jim McLay
New Zealand National Party
2,534
Rex Stanton
New Zealand Labour Party
Christchurch Central
Bruce Barclay
New Zealand Labour Party
5,947
Gwen Clucas
New Zealand National Party
Clutha
Peter Gordon
New Zealand National Party
Robin Gray
New Zealand National Party
1,427
F A O'Connell
New Zealand Labour Party
Dunedin Central
Brian MacDonell
New Zealand Labour Party
3,413
M B Ablett
New Zealand National Party
Dunedin North
Richard Walls
New Zealand National Party
Stan Rodger
New Zealand Labour Party
2,850
Richard Walls
New Zealand National Party
East Cape
Duncan MacIntyre
New Zealand National Party
2,533
O P Drabble
New Zealand Labour Party
East Coast Bays
Frank Gill
New Zealand National Party
1,566
Colleen Hicks
New Zealand Labour Party
Eastern Hutt
Trevor Young
New Zealand Labour Party
5,373
Rosemary Young
New Zealand National Party
Eden
Aussie Malcolm
New Zealand National Party
648
John Hinchcliff
New Zealand Labour Party
Fendalton
Eric Holland
New Zealand National Party
1,956
David CloseBohan 2004 67
New Zealand Labour Party
Gisborne
Bob Bell
New Zealand National Party
213
Allan Wallbank
New Zealand Labour Party
Hamilton East
Ian Shearer
New Zealand National Party
1,361
Lois Welch
New Zealand Labour Party
Hamilton West
Mike Minogue
New Zealand National Party
1,006
Dorothy Jelicich
New Zealand Labour Party
Hastings
Bob Fenton
New Zealand National Party
David Butcher
New Zealand Labour Party
334
Bob Fenton
New Zealand National Party
|-
| Hauraki
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background-color:#ececec;" | New electorate
| style="background-color:New Zealand National Party;" |
| style="text-align:center;background-color:;" | Leo Schultz
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,019
| style="background-color:Social Credit Party (New Zealand);" |
| style="text-align:center;" | Gordon Miller
|-
Hawkes Bay
Richard Harrison
New Zealand National Party
1,908
Mike Cullen
New Zealand Labour Party
Helensville
Dail Jones
New Zealand National Party
1,199
Jack Elder
New Zealand Labour Party
Heretaunga
Ron Bailey
New Zealand Labour Party
2,744
John Ward
New Zealand National Party
Horowhenua
Geoff Thompson
New Zealand National Party
744
Alan Charles Eyles
New Zealand Labour Party
Hunua
Winston Peters
New Zealand National Party
192
Malcolm Douglasnb The election of Malcolm Douglas in Hunua was overturned by the Electoral Court on 24 May 1979
New Zealand Labour Party
Invercargill
Norman Jones
New Zealand National Party
256
Aubrey Begg
New Zealand Labour Party
Island Bay
Gerald O'Brien
New Zealand Labour Party
Frank O'Flynn
New Zealand Labour Party
650
Bill Nathannb Gerald O'Brien came third standing as Independent Labour
New Zealand National Party
Kaimai
Bruce Townshend
New Zealand National Party
3,476
Douglas Conway
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Kaipara
Peter Wilkinson
New Zealand National Party
520
Nevern McConachyChapman 1999 208
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Kapiti
Barry Brill
New Zealand National Party
23
Margaret Shieldsnb Margaret Shields had initially been declared the winner but she lost 83 votes in a magisterial recount
New Zealand Labour Party
King Country
Jim Bolger
New Zealand National Party
2,770
Leo Menefy
New Zealand Labour Party
Lyttelton
Colleen Dewe
New Zealand National Party
Ann Hercus
New Zealand Labour Party
1,423
Colleen Dewe
New Zealand National Party
Manawatu
Allan McCready
New Zealand National Party
Michael Cox
New Zealand National Party
2,913
Trevor de Cleene
New Zealand Labour Party
Mangere
David Lange
New Zealand Labour Party
6,263
Peter Saunders
New Zealand National Party
Manurewa
Merv Wellington
New Zealand National Party
Roger Douglas
New Zealand Labour Party
2,467
Peter O'Brien
New Zealand National Party
Marlborough
Ed Latter
New Zealand National Party
Doug Kidd
New Zealand National Party
323
Ian Brooks
New Zealand Labour Party
Matamata
Jack Luxton
New Zealand National Party
4,407
David Mawdsley
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Miramar
Bill Young
New Zealand National Party
315
Bill Jeffries
New Zealand Labour Party
Mt Albert
Warren Freer
New Zealand Labour Party
2,861
Frank Ryan
New Zealand National Party
Napier
Gordon Christie
New Zealand Labour Party
2,927
Kevin Rose
New Zealand National Party
Nelson
Mel Courtney
New Zealand Labour Party
2,239
Peter Malone
New Zealand National Party
New Lynn
Jonathan Hunt
New Zealand Labour Party
4,390
Jacky Bridges
New Zealand National Party
New Plymouth
Tony Friedlander
New Zealand National Party
112
Dennis Duggan
New Zealand Labour Party
North Shore
George Gair
New Zealand National Party
4,650
Gene Leckey
New Zealand Labour Party
Onehunga
Frank Rogers
New Zealand Labour Party
1,417
Barrie Hutchinson
New Zealand National Party
Ohariu
Hugh Templeton
New Zealand National Party
1,958
Helene Ritchie
New Zealand Labour Party
Otago
Warren Cooper
New Zealand National Party
3,722
R J Rutherford
New Zealand Labour Party
Otahuhu
Bob Tizard
New Zealand Labour Party
4,762
Ray Ah Chee
New Zealand National Party
Pahiatua
John Falloon
New Zealand National Party
6,675
P M A Hills
New Zealand Labour Party
Pakuranga
Gavin Downie
Independent politician
Pat Hunt
New Zealand National Party
2,111
Elsa Smith
New Zealand Labour Party
Palmerston North
John Lithgow
New Zealand National Party
Joe Walding
New Zealand Labour Party
2,736
John Lithgow
New Zealand National Party
Papakura
Merv Wellington
New Zealand National Party
3,622
Geoff Braybrooke
New Zealand Labour Party
Papanui
Bert Walker
New Zealand National Party
Mike Moore
New Zealand Labour Party
3,289
Bert Walker
New Zealand National Party
Papatoetoe
Eddie Isbey
New Zealand Labour Party
1,511
Colin Bidois
New Zealand National Party
Pencarrow
Fraser Colman
New Zealand Labour Party
3,649
Brett Newell
New Zealand National Party
Porirua
Gerry Wall
New Zealand Labour Party
3,657
Alan Perry
New Zealand National Party
Rangiora
Derek Quigley
New Zealand National Party
1,145
Don McKenzie
New Zealand Labour Party
Rangiriri
Bill Birch
New Zealand National Party
2,276
Robert Frederick McKee
New Zealand Labour Party
Rangitikei
Bruce Beetham
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
2,853
Les Gandar
New Zealand National Party
Remuera
Allan Highet
New Zealand National Party
5,771
Lee Goffin
New Zealand Labour Party
Roskill
Arthur Faulkner
New Zealand Labour Party
1,671
John Banks
New Zealand National Party
Rotorua
Harry Lapwood
New Zealand National Party
Paul East
New Zealand National Party
1,020
Peter Tapsell
New Zealand Labour Party
St Albans
Roger Drayton
New Zealand Labour Party
David Caygill
New Zealand Labour Party
3,679
Neil Russell
New Zealand National Party
St Kilda
Bill Fraser
New Zealand Labour Party
2,959
Graeme Laing
New Zealand National Party
Selwyn
Colin McLachlan
New Zealand National Party
1,232
Bill Woods
New Zealand Labour Party
Sydenham
John Kirk
New Zealand Labour Party
7,040
Ian Wilson
New Zealand National Party
Tamaki
Robert Muldoon
New Zealand National Party
6,310
Audie Cooke-Pennefather
New Zealand Labour Party
Taranaki
David Thomson
New Zealand National Party
4,573
K A Tracey
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Tarawera
Ian Mclean
New Zealand National Party
2,022
JJ Stewart
New Zealand Labour Party
Tasman
Bill Rowling
New Zealand Labour Party
1,794
Ruth Richardson
New Zealand National Party
Taupo
Ray La Varis
New Zealand National Party
Jack Ridley
New Zealand Labour Party
609
Lesley A. MillerGustafson 1986 284
New Zealand National Party
Tauranga
Keith Allen
New Zealand National Party
3,318
Paul Hills
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Te Atatu
Michael Bassett
New Zealand Labour Party
2,819
W R Cross
New Zealand National Party
Timaru
Sir Basil Arthur
New Zealand Labour Party
2,183
Bill Penno
New Zealand National Party
Waikato
Lance Adams-Schneider
New Zealand National Party
5,063
Brian WestNorton 1988 368
New Zealand Labour Party
Waipa
Marilyn Waring
New Zealand National Party
4,906
John Kilbride
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Wairarapa
Ben Couch
New Zealand National Party
837
Allan Levett
New Zealand Labour Party
Waitakere
Ralph Maxwell
New Zealand Labour Party
2,016
Bill Haresnape
New Zealand National Party
Waitaki
Jonathan Elworthy
New Zealand National Party
1,315
Bill Laney
New Zealand Labour Party
Waitotara
Venn Young
New Zealand National Party
4,109
Edith Charteris
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Wallace
Brian Talboys
New Zealand National Party
5,324
Jim Thomson
New Zealand Labour Party
Wanganui
Russell Marshall
New Zealand Labour Party
3,102
John Rowan
New Zealand National Party
Wellington Central
Ken Comber
New Zealand National Party
916
Neville Pickering
New Zealand Labour Party
West Coast
Paddy Blanchfield
New Zealand Labour Party
Kerry Burke
New Zealand Labour Party
5,647
George Ferguson
New Zealand National Party
Western Hutt
Bill Lambert
New Zealand National Party
John Terris
New Zealand Labour Party
168
Bill Lambert
New Zealand National Party
Whangarei
John Elliott
New Zealand National Party
1,176
Colin Moyle
New Zealand Labour Party
Yaldhurst
Mick Connelly
New Zealand Labour Party
1,638
David Watson
New Zealand National Party
|-
|colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | Māori electorates
|-
Eastern Maori
Paraone Reweti
New Zealand Labour Party
7,400
Monty Searancke
New Zealand National Party
Northern Maori
Matiu Rata
New Zealand Labour Party
4,844
Joe Toia
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
Southern Maori
Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan
New Zealand Labour Party
9,180
Charles Piharo Maitai
New Zealand National Party
Western Maori
Koro Wētere
New Zealand Labour Party
9,719
Gordon Pihema
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
|}
Table footnotes:
nb
Map
Image:NewZealandElectorates1978-Labeled.png
Summary of changes
For details about the winners of each individual electorate, see the article on the 39th Parliament.
Electoral redistributions:
A major reconfiguration of electorates and their boundaries occurred in 1977. This resulted in twenty-two electorates being dissolved and twenty-seven new electorates being formed (a net gain of five electorates).
The seats of Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Egmont, Franklin, Grey Lynn, Henderson, Hobson, Hutt, Karori, Manukau, Oamaru, Petone, Piako, Raglan, Rakaia, Riccarton, Rodney, Ruahine, South Canterbury, Stratford, Waitemata, and Wigram ceased to exist.
The seats of Albany, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, East Cape, Eastern Hutt, Fendalton, Hauraki, Helensville, Horowhenua, Hunua, Kaimai, Kaipara, Matamata, Ohariu, Papakura, Papatoetoe, Pencarrow, Rangiriri, Selwyn, Taranaki, Tarawera, Te Atatu, Waipa, Waitakere, Waitaki, Waitotara, and Yaldhurst came into being.
Seats captured:
By Labour: Hastings, Lyttelton, Manurewa, Palmerston North, Papanui, Taupo, and Western Hutt were captured from National.
By National: None
By Social Credit: None
Seats transferred from departing MPs to new MPs:
The seats of Clutha, Manawatu, Marlborough, Pakuranga, and Rotorua, all held by departing National MPs, were won by new National candidates.
The seats of Dunedin North, Island Bay, St Albans, and West Coast, all held by departing Labour MPs, were won by new Labour candidates.
Notes
References
Neill Atkinson 2003 Adventures in Democracy: A History of the Vote in New Zealand Dunedin University of Otago Press
Bohan Edmund https://books.google.com/books?id=ijCGmSeVp6AC Burdon: a man of our time Hazard Press 2004 978-1-877270-90-1 62718931 20 June 2015
Chapman Robert Robert Chapman (academic) https://books.google.com/books?id=ePH7cF14-nUC New Zealand Politics and Social Patterns: Selected Works Victoria University Press 1999 9780864733610 1 September 2015
Chapman George George Chapman (party president) The Years of Lightning 1980 AH & AW Reed Wellington 0-589-01346-7
Gustafson Barry Barry Gustafson The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party 1986 Reed Methuen Auckland 0-474-00177-6
Electoral Atlas of New Zealand McRobie Alan 1989 GP Books Wellington 0-477-01384-8
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
Wilson Jim Jim Wilson (librarian) New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First published in 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103
Category:November 1978 in Oceania