1980 Northern Maori by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 January 2022 1980 Northern Maori by-election New Zealand 1980 presidential no 1978 New Zealand general election 1978 general 1981 New Zealand general election 1981 general 1980 06 07 y 6,831 (41.38%) 100px Bruce Gregory New Zealand Labour Party 3,580 52.41 Matiu Rata Mana Motuhake 2,589 37.90 100px Joe Toia Social Credit Party (New Zealand) 560 8.20 Member Matiu Rata New Zealand Labour Party Bruce Gregory New Zealand Labour Party The Northern Maori by-election of 1980 was a by-election for the Northern Maori electorate during the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It was prompted on 29 April by the resignation of Matiu Rata, a former member of the Labour Party who was establishing a new group, Mana Motuhake. Rata believed that contesting a by-election would give him a mandate for his change of allegiance. In the end, however, his plan backfired when the seat was won by Bruce Gregory, his replacement as the Labour Party candidate. It was held the same day as another by-election in Onehunga.The New Zealand Herald Same day for by-elections 26 April 1980 1 Candidates Labour Party As Northern Maori was a safe Labour seat, having held it since 1938, there was a large amount of interest in the candidacy. The sheer geographic size of the electorate also caused interest from candidates to be spread widely, Northern Maori stretched from Cape Reinga in the north to Panmure in the south.McRobie 1989 138 A total of 11 candidates were nominated:The New Zealand Herald Ex-National Man Seeks Labour Nod 30 April 1980 1 The New Zealand Herald Two More Seek Vote 1 May 1980 3 John Antonio, a social worker from Mission Bay Rameka Cope, a community officer from Hokianga Ivan Erstich, a truck driver from Kaitaia Dr Bruce Gregory, a general practitioner from Kaitaia Laly Haddon, a former Māori All Black Te Kairarahi Hui, a Maori welfare officer from Auckland Hemi Kingi, a teacher from Hamilton Peter Love, a marketing consultant from Auckland who was previously a candidate for the National Party Bertram McLean, a naval officer from Auckland Jon Matthews, a schoolteacher from Kaitaia William Rawiri, a branch manager from Tinopai The selection process was completed on 4 May, where Bruce Gregory was selected.The New Zealand Herald Labour Going For the Doctor 5 May 1980 1 Mana Motuhake After becoming dissatisfied with the Labour Party's Māori policies Matiu Rata had begun to lose the confidence of his colleagues. Eventually he was deposed as chairman of Labour's Maori Affairs committee and removed from Labour's front bench, prompting him to resign from the party. He then formed his own party, Mana Motuhake which would advocate for Maori self-determination. To help in the establishment of the party, Rata sought a by-election to gain voter approval for his new party and its agenda.https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/matiu-rata Matiu Rata: Biography NZ History 8 March 2016 Social Credit Anticipating that Rata would force a by-election, the Social Credit Party selected Joe Toia, a Dargaville forestry foreman, in March 1980. Toia was the Māori representative on the party's dominion council and had contested the seat at the last three elections.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19800312.2.31 Maori Socred candidate The Press 12 March 1980 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19800606.2.85 Labour's candidate set for Northern victory The Press 6 June 1980 14 Toia was previously a Labour Party member and had been beaten by Rata for the Labour nomination at the 1963 Northern Maori by-election.Candidate Next Week The New Zealand Herald 16 February 1963 3 Others The National Party did not contest the election, a decision that was criticised by Social Credit deputy-leader Jeremy Dwyer as "chickening out".The New Zealand Herald National Poll 'Sheer Expediency' 1 May 1980 3 The Values Party decided not to stand a candidate in Northern Maori. Party leader Margaret Crozier endorsed Rata, saying that Values agreed with his aim for Maori self-determination which was already part of Values Party policy.The New Zealand Herald No Values Entry 8 May 1980 8 Wallace Hetaraka, a carver and craft shop owner, stood for the Cheer Up Party (a joke party).https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19800528.2.23 Cheer up! The Press 28 May 1980 2 Results The following table gives the election results: 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 Wood G. A. Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament 2 1987 1996 University of Otago Press Dunedin 1-877133-00-0 113 Electoral Atlas of New Zealand McRobie Alan 1989 GP Books Wellington 0-477-01384-8 Northern Maori 1980 Category:1980 elections in New Zealand Category:Māori electorates Category:June 1980 in Oceania