1990 New Zealand general election

General election in New Zealand April 2024 February 2023 1990 New Zealand general election New Zealand parliamentary no 1987 New Zealand general election 1987 42nd New Zealand Parliament 1993 New Zealand general election 1993 All 97 seats in the House of Representatives 49 27 October 1990 members Jim Bolger, EC 1991.jpg 135 120 160 0 8 Jim Bolger 26 March 1986 New Zealand National Party King Country 40 seats, 44.02% 67 27 872,358 47.82% 3.80% Mike Moore, 1992 (crop).jpg 155 120 160 5 20 Mike Moore 4 September 1990 New Zealand Labour Party Christchurch North 57 seats, 47.96% 29 28 640,915 35.14% 12.82% Jim Anderton, 2010.jpg 190 120 160 0 10 Jim Anderton 1 April 1989 NewLabour Sydenham New party 1 1 94,171 5.16% 5.16% 1990 New Zealand general election.svg 350px Results by electorate, shaded by winning margin Prime Minister Subsequent Prime Minister Mike Moore Jim Bolger New Zealand Labour Party New Zealand National Party The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated in a landslide, ending its two terms in office. The National Party, led by Jim Bolger, won the largest majority government in New Zealand history. This election was the first time since 1975 that National won the popular vote, even if by taking a plurality but not a majority.The Royal Commission https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/fpp-to-mmp/royal-commission 2023-09-29 nzhistory.govt.nz en1890–1993 general elections https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/18901993-general-elections/ 2023-09-29 Elections en-NZ Background The Labour Party had taken office after defeating the National Party under Robert Muldoon in the 1984 election. David Lange became prime minister and Roger Douglas became Minister of Finance. The economic program outlined by Douglas was deeply unpopular with Labour's traditional supporters, however – deregulation, privatisation, and free trade, all opposed by the party's more left-wing members, were a key part of the Rogernomics platform. This internal dissent was off-set somewhat by new social legislation and a strong stance against nuclear weapons. Labour was re-elected in the 1987 election with its parliamentary majority untouched, but the internal disputes continued. Eventually Lange forced Douglas to resign in December 1988, but continued destabilisation of his leadership by Douglas had weakened Lange's position such that he resigned eight months later. He was replaced as prime minister by Geoffrey Palmer, but Palmer failed to revive Labour's falling popularity. Several months before the election, Palmer was replaced by Mike Moore. The National Party was performing strongly – its leader, Jim Bolger, spoke repeatedly of "the Decent Society", saying that the reforms were doing significant damage to the social fabric of the country. The government was also being challenged by the NewLabour Party, founded by renegade MP Jim Anderton. In a study of the 1990 election, political scientists Jack Vowles and Peter Aimer, concluded that Moore's elevation to the leadership did make an impact on voters, particularly those who were still undecided about how they would vote when the campaign began. They stated "The evidence has confirmed the presence of a small electoral effect, consistently in Moore's favour," and that "He attracted some late deciders, probably deterred others from leaving Labour; and those who did leave appeared to do so despite, rather than because of, the leadership change."https://www.politik.co.nz/numbers-firm-against-luxon/ Richard Harman Richard Harman (journalist) Numbers firm against Luxon 12 August 2026 12 August 2026 Politik subscription Moore's performance on the campaign trail narrowed the gap in opinion polls between Labour and National to 10%, better than it had been for over a year.Bassett 2008 538 MPs retiring in 1990 Five National MPs and eleven Labour MPs intended to retire at the end of the 42nd Parliament. Party Name Electorate National George Gair North Shore Merv Wellington Papakura Ian McLean Tarawera Venn Young Waitotara Derek Angus Wallace Labour Geoffrey Palmer Christchurch Central Stan Rodger Dunedin North Anne Collins East Cape Trevor Young Eastern Hutt Roger Douglas Manurewa Philip Woollaston Nelson Colin Moyle Otara Trevor de Cleene Palmerston North Bob Tizard Panmure Michael Bassett Te Atatu Russell Marshall Wanganui The election The date for the 1990 election was 27 October. 2,202,157 people were registered to vote, and 85.2% of these people turned out. The number of seats being contested was 97 – this was the same as in the previous election, which had the largest number of seats for any Parliament until that point. Results The 1990 election eventually saw a victory for the National Party, then in opposition. National won nearly half (48%) of the vote and 67 (69%) of the seats, becoming the fourth National government. This was the highest number of seats the party had ever won, either in absolute terms or as a percentage, and by extension the largest majority government in New Zealand history. Four new (and young) National MPs: (Bill English, Tony Ryall, Roger Sowry and Nick Smith) were called the "brat pack" by Sir Robert Muldoon (himself one of the "Young Turks" of 1960).http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9773270/The-brat-pack-loses-a-member The Brat Pack loses a member Stuff 25 May 2014 The new Green Party gained the third-highest number of votes, but won no seats. The NewLabour Party won a single seat, due to Jim Anderton retaining the Sydenham seat he originally won as a Labour candidate. The governing Labour Party, by contrast, suffered its worst-ever defeat since it first won power in the 1935 election, winning only 29 (30%) of the seats and 35% of the vote (its lowest percentage since 1931), and losing 27 seats. Initially it appeared that twelve ministers and the Speaker had lost their seats, but Fran Wilde scraped in on special votes. Many of Labour's talented "class of 84" were swept out, though five of them, Annette King, Jim Sutton, Trevor Mallard, Richard Northey and Judy Keall, returned in 1993.Bassett 2008 538 The result was primarily due to intense anger at Labour and its policies (shown by it losing 12% of the vote) rather than love of National (which only increased its vote by 4%). Detailed results Party totals center Election resultsNew Zealand Elections 1972–1993 https://www.nzes.net/files/2024/10/NZ_Elections1972-93.xls New Zealand Election Study 17 December 2011 Party Candidates Total votes Percentage Seats wonNational97872,35847.8267Labour97640,91535.1429Greens71124,9156.85-NewLabour9394,1715.161Democrats9130,4551.67-Social Credit6817,8970.98-Mana Motuhake410,8690.60-McGillicuddy Serious5910,0580.55-Christian Heritage189,5910.53-Minor parties and Independents7612,8630.71-Total6741,824,09297 Votes summary Popular Vote #ddd 600px 410px National New Zealand National Party 47.82 Labour New Zealand Labour Party 35.14 Greens Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 6.85 NewLabour NewLabour Party (New Zealand) 5.16 Democrats New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit 2.02 Others #777777 3.37 Parliament seats #ddd 600px 410px National New Zealand National Party 69.07 Labour New Zealand Labour Party 29.90 NewLabour NewLabour Party (New Zealand) 1.03 Electorate results File:NewZealandElectorates1990-Labeled.png The tables below shows the results of the 1990 general election: Key New Zealand National Party New Zealand Labour Party New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit NewLabour Party (New Zealand) Mana Motuhake Electorate results for the 1990 New Zealand general election |- |colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | General electorates |- Albany Don McKinnon New Zealand National Party 7,455 June Allen New Zealand Labour Party Ashburton Jenny Shipley New Zealand National Party 7,922 Basil Moskovis New Zealand Labour Party Auckland Central Richard Prebble New Zealand Labour Party 3,277 Kathryn Hill New Zealand National Party Avon Larry Sutherland New Zealand Labour Party 4,250 Wendy Rush New Zealand National Party Awarua Jeff Grant New Zealand National Party 4,964 Heather Russell New Zealand Labour Party Bay of Islands John Carter New Zealand National Party 5,285 Bruce Raitt New Zealand Labour Party Birkenhead Jenny Kirk New Zealand Labour Party Ian Revell New Zealand National Party 2,813 Jenny Kirk New Zealand Labour Party Christchurch Central Geoffrey Palmer New Zealand Labour Party Lianne Dalziel New Zealand Labour Party 3,769 Ross Gluer New Zealand National Party Christchurch North true Mike Moore New Zealand Labour Party 2,148 Peter Yarrell New Zealand National Party Clevedon Warren Kyd New Zealand National Party 4,732 Ann Batten New Zealand Labour Party Clutha Robin Gray New Zealand National Party 6,527 Jeff Buchanan New Zealand Labour Party Coromandel Graeme Lee New Zealand National Party 6,342 Margaret Hawkeswood New Zealand Labour Party Dunedin North Stan Rodger New Zealand Labour Party Pete Hodgson New Zealand Labour Party 2,336 Gael Donoghue New Zealand National Party Dunedin West true Clive Matthewson New Zealand Labour Party 1,779 Ian McMeeking New Zealand National Party East Cape Anne Collins New Zealand Labour Party Tony Ryall New Zealand National Party 1,968 Dianne Collins New Zealand Labour Party East Coast Bays Murray McCully New Zealand National Party 5,216 Gary Knapp New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit Eastern Hutt Trevor Young New Zealand Labour Party Paul Swain New Zealand Labour Party 801 Rosemary Thomas New Zealand National Party Eden Richard Northey New Zealand Labour Party Christine Fletcher New Zealand National Party 1,524 Richard Northey New Zealand Labour Party Fendalton Philip Burdon New Zealand National Party 4,993 Tony Day New Zealand Labour Party Gisborne Allan Wallbank New Zealand Labour Party Wayne Kimber New Zealand National Party 449 Allan Wallbank New Zealand Labour Party Glenfield Judy Keall New Zealand Labour Party Peter Hilt New Zealand National Party 2,958 Judy Keall New Zealand Labour Party Hamilton East Bill Dillon New Zealand Labour Party Tony Steel New Zealand National Party 2,121 Bill Dillon New Zealand Labour Party Hamilton West Trevor Mallard New Zealand Labour Party Grant Thomas New Zealand National Party 1,563 Trevor Mallard New Zealand Labour Party Hastings David Butcher New Zealand Labour Party Jeff Whittaker New Zealand National Party 728 David Butcher New Zealand Labour Party Hawkes Bay Bill Sutton New Zealand Labour Party Michael Laws New Zealand National Party 2,895 Bill Sutton New Zealand Labour Party Heretaunga Bill Jeffries New Zealand Labour Party Peter McCardle New Zealand National Party 1,122 Bill Jeffries New Zealand Labour Party Hobson Ross Meurant New Zealand National Party 6,641 Howard Henry New Zealand Labour Party Horowhenua Annette King New Zealand Labour Party Hamish Hancock New Zealand National Party 624 Annette King New Zealand Labour Party Invercargill Rob Munro New Zealand National Party 4,137 Barry Rait New Zealand Labour Party Island Bay Elizabeth Tennet New Zealand Labour Party 3,635 Ann Nolan New Zealand National Party Kaimai Robert Anderson New Zealand National Party 8,147 Gordon Dickson New Zealand Labour Party Kaipara Lockwood Smith New Zealand National Party 8,610 Wayne Sellwood New Zealand Labour Party Kapiti Margaret Shields New Zealand Labour Party Roger Sowry New Zealand National Party 1,599 Margaret Shields New Zealand Labour Party King Country Jim Bolger New Zealand National Party 7,274 Cameron Gordon New Zealand Labour Party Lyttelton Peter Simpson New Zealand Labour Party Gail McIntosh New Zealand National Party 68 Peter Simpson New Zealand Labour Party Manawatu David Robinson New Zealand Labour Party Hamish MacIntyre New Zealand National Party 3,089 David Robinson New Zealand Labour Party Mangere David Lange New Zealand Labour Party 4,039 Bryan Archer New Zealand National Party Manurewa Roger Douglas New Zealand Labour Party George Hawkins New Zealand Labour Party 1,143 Pat Baker New Zealand National Party Maramarua Bill Birch New Zealand National Party 7,670 Charles Chauvel New Zealand Labour Party Marlborough Doug Kidd New Zealand National Party 7,187 Barbara Hutchinson New Zealand Labour Party Matamata John Luxton New Zealand National Party 8,501 Bill Pepperell New Zealand Labour Party Miramar Peter Neilson New Zealand Labour Party Graeme Reeves New Zealand National Party 552 Peter Neilson New Zealand Labour Party Mt Albert Helen Clark New Zealand Labour Party 1,230 Larry Bellshaw New Zealand National Party Napier Geoff Braybrooke New Zealand Labour Party 1,265 Colleen Pritchard New Zealand National Party Nelson Philip Woollaston New Zealand Labour Party John Blincoe New Zealand Labour Party 636 Liz Baigent New Zealand National Party New Lynn Jonathan Hunt New Zealand Labour Party 1,099 Martyn Athol Bishop New Zealand National Party New Plymouth Harry Duynhoven New Zealand Labour Party John Armstrong New Zealand National Party 1,701 Harry Duynhoven New Zealand Labour Party North Shore George Gair New Zealand National Party Bruce Cliffe New Zealand National Party 6,183 Graeme Ransom New Zealand Labour Party Ohariu Peter Dunne New Zealand Labour Party 783 George Mathew New Zealand National Party Onehunga Fred Gerbic New Zealand Labour Party Grahame Thorne New Zealand National Party 612 Fred Gerbic New Zealand Labour Party Otago Warren Cooper New Zealand National Party 3,927 Tony Cooke New Zealand Labour Party Otara Colin Moyle New Zealand Labour Party Trevor Rogers New Zealand National Party 1,226 Taito Phillip Field New Zealand Labour Party Pahiatua John Falloon New Zealand National Party 7,689 Margo Martindale New Zealand Labour Party Pakuranga Maurice Williamson New Zealand National Party 9,086 Paul Charles Grant New Zealand Labour Party Palmerston North Trevor de Cleene New Zealand Labour Party Steve Maharey New Zealand Labour Party 349 Paul Sherriff New Zealand National Party Panmure Bob Tizard New Zealand Labour Party Judith Tizard New Zealand Labour Party 1,098 Gray Bartlett New Zealand National Party Papakura Merv Wellington New Zealand National Party John Robertson New Zealand National Party 5,665 James Stubbs New Zealand Labour Party Papatoetoe Ross Robertson New Zealand Labour Party 510 Allan Brewster New Zealand National Party Pencarrow Sonja Davies New Zealand Labour Party 384 Ray Wallace New Zealand National Party Porirua Graham Kelly New Zealand Labour Party 3,453 Philip Faulkner New Zealand National Party Raglan Simon Upton New Zealand National Party 5,442 Olivia Scaletti-Longley New Zealand Labour Party Rangiora Jim Gerard New Zealand National Party 5,273 Judith Alison McLachlan New Zealand Labour Party Rangitikei Denis Marshall New Zealand National Party 6,127 Patricia Barton New Zealand Labour Party Remuera Doug Graham New Zealand National Party 7,368 Carl Harding New Zealand Labour Party Roskill Phil Goff New Zealand Labour Party Gilbert Myles New Zealand National Party 644 Phil Goff New Zealand Labour Party Rotorua Paul East New Zealand National Party 5,270 Bruce Raitt New Zealand Labour Party St Albans David Caygill New Zealand Labour Party 1,560 David Dumergue New Zealand National Party St Kilda Michael Cullen New Zealand Labour Party 1,886 Bruce Alexander New Zealand National Party Selwyn Ruth Richardson New Zealand National Party 5,441 Val Elley New Zealand Labour Party Sydenham Jim Anderton NewLabour Party (New Zealand) 1,443 Linda Constable New Zealand Labour Party Tamaki Robert Muldoon New Zealand National Party 7,592 Malcolm Johnston New Zealand Labour Party Taranaki Roger Maxwell New Zealand National Party 7,867 Scott Dalziel New Zealand Labour Party Tarawera Ian McLean New Zealand National Party Max Bradford New Zealand National Party 5,152 Malcolm Moore New Zealand Labour Party Tasman Ken Shirley New Zealand Labour Party Nick Smith New Zealand National Party 2,246 Ken Shirley New Zealand Labour Party Tauranga Winston Peters New Zealand National Party 9,314 Bill Delaney New Zealand Labour Party Te Atatu Michael Bassett New Zealand Labour Party Brian Neeson New Zealand National Party 1,370 Dan McCaffrey New Zealand Labour Party Timaru Maurice McTigue New Zealand National Party 3,192 Gary Clarke New Zealand Labour Party Titirangi Ralph Maxwell New Zealand Labour Party Marie Hasler New Zealand National Party 64 Ralph Maxwell New Zealand Labour Party Tongariro Noel Scott New Zealand Labour Party Ian Peters New Zealand National Party 886 Noel Scott New Zealand Labour Party Waikaremoana Roger McClay New Zealand National Party 5,865 David Davies New Zealand Labour Party Waikato Rob Storey New Zealand National Party 6,172 George Middleton New Zealand Labour Party Waipa Katherine O'Regan New Zealand National Party 8,477 Mark Apiata-Wade New Zealand Labour Party Wairarapa Wyatt Creech New Zealand National Party 4,141 Pauline Moran New Zealand Labour Party Waitaki Jim Sutton New Zealand Labour Party Alec Neill New Zealand National Party 2,905 Jim Sutton New Zealand Labour Party Waitotara Venn Young New Zealand National Party Peter Gresham New Zealand National Party 7,192 Dominic O'Sullivan New Zealand Labour Party Wallace Derek Angus New Zealand National Party Bill English New Zealand National Party 8,886 David Soper New Zealand Labour Party Wanganui Russell Marshall New Zealand Labour Party Cam Campion New Zealand National Party 409 Jill Pettis New Zealand Labour Party Wellington Central Fran Wilde New Zealand Labour Party 246 Pauline Gardinernb Gardiner was first on election night for Wellington Central, but lost when special votes were included Bassett 2008 538 New Zealand National Party West Auckland Jack Elder New Zealand Labour Party 252 Laurie Wicks New Zealand National Party West Coast Kerry Burke New Zealand Labour Party Margaret Moir New Zealand National Party 2,611 Kerry Burke New Zealand Labour Party Western Hutt John Terris New Zealand Labour Party Joy Quigley New Zealand National Party 700 John Terris New Zealand Labour Party Whangarei John Banks New Zealand National Party 6,839 Edna Tait New Zealand Labour Party Yaldhurst Margaret Austin New Zealand Labour Party 42 John Connelly New Zealand National Party |- |colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | Māori electorates |- Eastern Maori Peter Tapsell New Zealand Labour Party 6,844 Wi Kuki Kaa Mana Motuhake Northern Maori Bruce Gregory New Zealand Labour Party 956 Matiu Rata Mana Motuhake Southern Maori Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan New Zealand Labour Party 7,614 Tikirau Stevens Mana Motuhake Western Maori Koro Wētere New Zealand Labour Party 5,466 Eva Rickard Mana Motuhake |} Table footnotes: nb Summary of seat changes Electoral redistributions: There was no redistribution of electoral boundaries between the 1987 and 1990 elections. Seats captured: By National: Birkenhead, East Cape, Eden, Gisborne, Glenfield, Hamilton East, Hamilton West, Hastings, Hawkes Bay, Heretaunga, Horowhenua, Kapiti, Lyttelton, Manawatu, Miramar, New Plymouth, Onehunga, Otara, Roskill, Tasman, Te Atatu, Titirangi, Tongariro, Waitaki, Wanganui, West Coast and Western Hutt (27 seats) were captured from Labour. Seventeen of these (Gisborne, Hamilton East, Hamilton West, Hastings, Horowhenua, Lyttelton, Manawatu, Miramar, New Plymouth, Onehunga, Otara, Roskill, Te Atatu, Titirangi, Tongariro, Wanganui & the West Coast) were one-term gains, recaptured by Labour in 1993. Seats transferred from departing MPs to new MPs: The seats of North Shore, Papakura, Tarawera, Waitotara and Wallace, all held by departing National MPs, were won by new National candidates. The seats of Christchurch Central, Dunedin North, Eastern Hutt, Manurewa, Nelson, Palmerston North and Panmure, all held by departing Labour MPs, were won by new Labour candidates. Post-election events A number of local by-elections were required due to the resignation of incumbent local body politicians following their election to Parliament: A by-election to the Auckland City Council was caused after Maungakiekie Ward councillor Grahame Thorne resigned his seat after he was elected MP for Onehunga, necessitating a by-election to fill the council vacancy. The by-election was won by Ken Graham with two candidates from the general election, Richard Northey (Labour candidate for Eden) and Laurie Ross (Green candidate for Onehunga), also contesting.Bassett Michael Michael Bassett 2013 City of sails: the history of Auckland City Council, 1989–2010 1927262003 382 A by-election to the Auckland Regional Council was caused after Panmure Ward councillor Judith Tizard resigned her seat after she was elected MP for Panmure, necessitating a by-election to fill the council vacancy. The by-election was won by Bruce Jesson with a retiring candidate at the general election, Bob Tizard (previously Labour MP for Panmure) also contesting.Declaration of Result of Election The New Zealand Herald 5 December 1991 14; 3 Voters go for new parties The New Zealand Herald 28 November 1991 1 A by-election to the Wellington City Council was caused after Southern Ward councillor John Blincoe resigned his seat after he was elected MP for Nelson, necessitating a by-election to fill the council vacancy. The by-election was won by Margaret Bonner with two candidates from the general election, Ann Nolan (National candidate for Island Bay) and Jeff Montgomery (NewLabour candidate for Wellington Central), also contesting.Gavin Evans Blincoe Stalls Resignation 15 December 1990 The Evening Post Bly Ross 29 April 1991 Southern Ward By-Election Wellington City Council The Evening Post Declaration of Result of Election 1 May 1991 Notes References Bassett Michael Michael Bassett Working with David: Inside the Lange Cabinet 2008 Hodder Moa Auckland 978-1-86971-094-1 McLeay E. M. The 1990 General Election, Perspectives on Political Change in New Zealand: Occasional Publications No 3, Department of Political Science 1991 Victoria University of Wellington Wellington 0-475-11202-4 Stringer John 1990 Parliamentary Candidates for the New Zealand National Party 1990 New Zealand National Party Wellington Voters' Vengeance: The 1990 Election in New Zealand and the fate of the Fourth Labour Government Jack Vowles Peter Aimer 1993 Auckland University Press 1-86940-078-X Category:October 1990 in Oceania