West Coast-Tasman

West Coast-Tasman
Single-member constituency
for the New Zealand House of Representatives
Outline map
Location of West Coast-Tasman within Tasman and West Coast
RegionTasman and West Coast
Area32,757.87 km2 (12,647.88 sq mi)
Current constituency
Created1996
Current MPMaureen Pugh
PartyNational
List MPsDamien O'Connor (Labour)

West Coast-Tasman is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, currently held by Maureen Pugh of the New Zealand National Party as of the 2023 general election. West Coast-Tasman is the largest general electorate in the entire country, with an area larger than the entirety of Belgium.[1] It comprises the entirety of Te Tai Poutini and the Tasman District, as well as Brightwater in suburban Nelson.

Historically it has often been regarded as one of the safest New Zealand Labour Party seats in the entire country.[2][3] From its creation for the 1996 election until 2023, it was held by Damien O'Connor of the Labour Party, with the exception of one parliamentary term under National's Chris Auchinvole (between 2008 and 2011). Pugh's narrow victory in 2023 (915 votes) was considered a major upset, with the third-place independent candidacy of Patrick Phelps splitting the vote in her favour.[4][5]

Population centres

[edit]

West Coast-Tasman is the largest general electorate in New Zealand, covering 32,758 km2 (12,648 sq mi).[6] It is one of the longest. The Representation Commission last adjusted the boundaries in the 2007 review, which first applied at the 2008 election, when the northern boundary moved closer to Nelson, and Wakefield, Foxhill and Belgrove were added.[7] The electorate was not changed in the 2013/14 review.[8] Brightwater was added from Nelson at the 2020 redistribution.[9]

The electorate includes the following population centres:

History

[edit]

The electorate was formed in 1996 for the mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting system by combining the former Tasman and West Coast electorates.

Damien O'Connor was the first representative and he held the electorate until the 2008 general election, when he was beaten by National candidate Chris Auchinvole, who had previously been a list MP. Auchinvole's majority was 971.[10] His position on the Labour Party list meant that O'Connor couldn't return to Parliament immediately. When the list MP Michael Cullen retired in May 2009, O'Connor regained his position as Member of the House of Representatives because he was the highest-ranked candidate on the list not already an MP.[11] In contrast to the overall trend, he regained the electorate in the 2011 election.[12]

Auchinvole retired from politics at the end of the 2011–2014 parliamentary term, and former Mayor of Westland District, Maureen Pugh, gained the nomination for the National Party.[13][14] O'Connor was once again successful. Based on preliminary results for the 2014 election, Pugh was the lowest-ranked National Party list member who was returned to Parliament,[15][16] but when the final results were released two weeks later, National had lost one list seat and Pugh did not get returned to Parliament.[17]

Members of Parliament

[edit]

West Coast-Tasman has been represented by two electorate MPs so far:

Key

  Labour   National   Green

Election Winner
1996 election Damien O'Connor
1999 election
2002 election
2005 election
2008 election Chris Auchinvole
2011 election Damien O'Connor
2014 election
2017 election
2020 election
2023 election Maureen Pugh

List MPs

[edit]

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the West Coast-Tasman electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Election Winner
1996 election Owen Jennings
2005 election Chris Auchinvole
2008 election Kevin Hague
2009 Damien O'Connor1
2011 election Chris Auchinvole
Kevin Hague
2014 election Kevin Hague2
2016 Maureen Pugh3
2018 Maureen Pugh4
2020 election Maureen Pugh
2023 election Damien O'Connor

1In the 2008 election Damien O'Connor's list position of 37 meant he was not returned until Michael Cullen resigned in May 2009.
2Kevin Hague resigned from Parliament on 7 October 2016.
3Maureen Pugh's list position of 52 meant she became elected after Tim Groser resigned in December 2015. She assumed office in early 2016 and was not returned to Parliament at the 2017 election, until the resignation of Bill English.
4Maureen Pugh's list position of 44 meant she became elected after Bill English resigned in February 2018. She assumed office in early 2018.

Election results

[edit]

2023 election

[edit]
2023 general election: West Coast-Tasman[18]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Maureen Pugh 13,317 32.01 -1.48 14,042 33.45 +8.35
Labour Red XN Damien O'Connor 12,300 29.57 -18.22 9,970 23.75 -23.25
Independent Patrick Phelps 5,903 14.19 +14.19
Green Steve Richards 2,743 6.59 +1.20 4,521 10.77 +2.59
ACT Kelly Lilley 2,520 6.05 +2.71 5,488 13.07 +3.36
NZ First Jackie Farrelly 1,799 4.32 +2.75 4,154 9.89 +6.95
Outdoors Sue Grey 1,554 3.73 +3.73
NZ Loyal Sebastian Markinovic 618 1.42 +1.42 1,489 3.54 +3.54
Money Free Party Richard Osmaston 88 0.21 +0.06
Opportunities   792 1.88 +0.62
Te Pāti Māori   290 0.69 +0.49
Freedoms NZ   289 0.68 +0.68
Legalise Cannabis   281 0.66 +0.09
NewZeal   254 0.60 +0.60
DemocracyNZ   136 0.32 +0.32
Animal Justice   99 0.23 +0.23
New Conservatives   63 0.15 -1.52
Women's Rights   46 0.10 +0.10
Leighton Baker Party   40 0.09 +0.09
New Nation   19 0.04 +0.04
Informal votes 311 236
Total valid votes 41,905 42,209
National gain from Labour Majority 1,017 2.44

2020 election

[edit]
2020 general election: West Coast-Tasman[19]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Damien O'Connor 20,753 47.79 -1.75 20,521 47.0 +10.00
National Maureen Pugh 14,545 33.49 −1.06 10,934 25.1 -14.8
Green Steve Richards 2,341 5.39 −0.59 3,572 8.18 −0.08
ACT William Stuart Gardner 1,454 3.34 +2.93 4,237 9.71 +9.35
Advance NZ Anne Fitzsimon 717 1.65 — 747 1.71 —
Independent Peter Ewen 697 1.60 —
NZ First Jackie Farrelly 685 1.57 -3.22 1,281 2.94 -6.43
Outdoors Luke King 618 1.42 — 229 0.52 +0.42
New Conservative Karl Barkley 606 1.39 — 730 1.67 +1.41
Independent Cory Aitken 201 0.46 —
Social Credit Jack Collin 141 0.32 +0.22 78 0.17 +0.11
Money Free Party Richard Osmaston 69 0.15
Opportunities   553 1.26 -1.34
Legalise Cannabis   250 0.57 +0.11
Māori Party   88 0.20 +0.13
ONE   60 0.13 —
Sustainable NZ   33 0.07 —
Vision NZ   21 0.04 —
TEA   8 0.01 —
Heartland   5 0.01 —
Informal votes 596 288
Total valid votes 43,423 43,635
Turnout 43,635
Labour hold Majority 6,208 14.29 -0.70

2017 election

[edit]
2017 general election: West Coast-Tasman[20]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Damien O'Connor 18,488 49.54 +2.74 14,015 37.0 +13.60
National Maureen Pugh[a] 12,895 34.55 −0.81 15,122 39.9 −4.45
Green Kate Fulton 2,230 5.98 −0.69 3,117 8.26 −4.66
NZ First Jackie Farrelly 1,787 4.79 — 3,536 9.37 +0.61
Ban 1080 Pete Salter 1,470 3.94 −2.54 359 0.95 −0.66
ACT Zeb Markland 154 0.41 — 137 0.36 +0.10
Independent Steven Wilkinson 137 0.37 −0.27
GOdsownNZ Claire Holley 72 0.19 −2.69[b]
Money Free Liam Anderson 50 0.13 —
Democrats Jack Collin 38 0.10 — 21 0.06 −0.01
Opportunities   982 2.60 —
Legalise Cannabis   173 0.46 −0.12
Conservative   97 0.26 −4.84
Māori Party   73 0.19 −0.09
Outdoors   36 0.10 –
United Future   26 0.07 −0.13
People's Party   18 0.05 —
Mana   10 0.03 −0.72[c]
Internet   2 0.01 −0.74[d]
Informal votes 302 149
Total valid votes 37,321 37,724
Turnout 37,873
Labour hold Majority 5,593 14.99 +3.55

2014 election

[edit]
2014 general election: West Coast-Tasman[21]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Damien O'Connor 16,747 46.80 -0.71 8,438 23.40 -3.85
National Maureen Pugh[e] 12,653 35.36 -4.49 16,058 44.54 -1.25
Green Kevin Hague 2,385 6.67 +0.23 4,658 12.92 -1.26
Ban 1080 Pete Salter 2,318 6.48 +6.48 942 2.61 +2.61
Conservative Claire Holley 1,031 2.88 +1.00 1,837 5.10 +1.92
Independent Steven Wilkinson 228 0.64 -0.72[f]
Money Free Laurence Bloomert 50 0.14 +0.14
NZ First   3,123 8.66 +2.94
Internet Mana   271 0.75 +0.48
Legalise Cannabis   210 0.58 -0.16
Māori Party   102 0.28 -0.15
ACT   94 0.26 -0.56
United Future   71 0.20 -1.19
Democrats   25 0.07 -0.03
Independent Coalition   14 0.04 +0.04
Civilian   11 0.03 +0.03
Focus   7 0.02 +0.02
Informal votes 373 192
Total valid votes 35,785 36,053
Labour hold Majority 4,094 11.44 +3.78

2011 election

[edit]
2011 general election: West Coast-Tasman[22]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Damien O'Connor 15,753 47.51 +3.85 9,200 27.25 -6.22
National Red XN Chris Auchinvole 13,214 39.85 -6.66 15,462 45.79 +1.72
Green Kevin Hague 2,123 6.40 +0.23 4,787 14.18 +3.32
Conservative Claire Holley 623 1.88 +1.88 1,075 3.18 +3.18
ACT Allan Birchfield 487 1.47 +1.47 278 0.82 -1.34
United Future Clyde Graf 454 1.37 +0.63 468 1.39 +0.23
Legalise Cannabis Steven Wilkinson 450 1.36 -0.47 249 0.74 +0.14
Youth Robert Terry 52 0.16 +0.01
NZ First   1,931 5.72 +1.91
Māori Party   145 0.43 -0.20
Mana   91 0.27 +0.27
Democrats   33 0.10 -0.01
Libertarianz   31 0.09 +0.03
Alliance   16 0.05 -0.04
Informal votes 628 288
Total valid votes 33,156 33,766
Labour gain from National Majority 2,539 7.66 +10.51

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 44,556[23]

2008 election

[edit]
2008 general election: West Coast-Tasman[24]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Chris Auchinvole 15,844 46.51 +5.59 15,187 44.07
Labour Red XN Damien O'Connor 14,873 43.66 -4.03 11,532 33.46
Green Kevin Hague 2,102 6.17 +1.38 3,740 10.85
Legalise Cannabis Steven Wilkinson 623 1.83 +0.21 206 0.60
McGillicuddy Serious Steve Richards 259 0.76
United Future Jocelyn Smith 252 0.74 -1.33 398 1.15
NZ Representative Party Reg Turner 62 0.18
Aotearoa NZ Youth Party Robert Terry 50 0.15
NZ First   1,313 3.81
ACT   744 2.16
Kiwi   349 1.01
Progressive   292 0.85
Bill and Ben   243 0.71
Māori Party   216 0.63
Family Party   122 0.35
Democrats   37 0.11
Alliance   29 0.08
Libertarianz   20 0.06
Workers Party   14 0.04
Pacific   10 0.03
RAM   5 0.01
RONZ   3 0.01
Informal votes 366 223
Total valid votes 34,065 34,460
National gain from Labour Majority 971 2.85

2005 election

[edit]
2005 general election: West Coast-Tasman[25]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Damien O'Connor 15,178 47.69 -6.14 12,012 37.22
National Chris Auchinvole 13,024 40.93 +13.05 12,776 39.59
Green Richard Davies 1,526 4.80 2,913 9.03
United Future Milton Osborne 658 2.07 977 3.03
Legalise Cannabis Steve Wilkinson 515 1.62 174 0.54
Progressive Lew Holland 358 1.12 558 1.73
Christian Heritage Derek Blight 314 0.99 131 0.41
ACT Kevin Gill 251 0.79 348 1.08
NZ First   2,029 6.29
Māori Party   118 0.37
Destiny   111 0.34
Democrats   30 0.09
Libertarianz   21 0.07
Alliance   20 0.06
Family Rights   12 0.04
One NZ   11 0.03
99 MP   10 0.03
Direct Democracy   10 0.03
RONZ   10 0.03
Informal votes 354 131
Total valid votes 31,824 32,271
Labour hold Majority 2,154 6.77 -19.18

1999 election

[edit]

Refer to Candidates in the New Zealand general election 1999 by electorate#West Coast-Tasman for a list of candidates.

Table footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Maureen Pugh's list position of 44 meant she became elected after Bill English resigned in February 2018. She assumed office in early 2018.
  2. ^ Claire Holley contested the electorate in 2014 as a candidate for the Conservative Party
  3. ^ 2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election
  4. ^ 2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election
  5. ^ Maureen Pugh's list position of 52 meant she became elected after Tim Groser resigned in December 2015. She assumed office in early 2016.
  6. ^ Steven Wilkinson contested the electorate in 2011 as a candidate for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Henry Cooke (16 January 2024). "Why we're eventually going to need more MPs". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Most left and right-leaning electorates revealed by Vote Compass". 1News. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  3. ^ "National's Maureen Pugh wins long-time red West Coast seat". RNZ. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  4. ^ Joanne Naish (17 October 2023). "Maureen Pugh takes electorate seat while battling 'wave of grief'". The Press / Te Matatika. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  5. ^ Phelps, Patrick. "Could The West Coast-Tasman Electorate Hold The Balance Of Power This October?". Scoop News (Press release). Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". datafinder.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  7. ^ Report of the Representation Commission 2007 (PDF). Representation Commission. 14 September 2007. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-477-10414-2. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  8. ^ Report of the Representation Commission 2014 (PDF). Representation Commission. 4 April 2014. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-477-10414-2. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Report of the Representation Commission 2020" (PDF). 17 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Official Count Results – West Coast-Tasman". Chief Electoral Office, Wellington. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  11. ^ "O'Connor to return to Parliament". Radio New Zealand. 13 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009.
  12. ^ "O'Connor on course to grab West Coast seat". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Pugh to seek Coast seat". The Nelson Mail. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  14. ^ Conway, Glenn (16 December 2013). "Former Westland mayor to stand for National". The Press.
  15. ^ Mathewson, Nicole; Stylianou, Georgina; Fulton, Tim (21 September 2014). "Election 2014: Canterbury decides". The Press. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  16. ^ Farrar, David (21 September 2014). "Election 2014: All the MPs for each party, plus those who failed to make the cut". National Business Review. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  17. ^ Rutherford, Hamish (4 October 2014). "National loses majority, Greens pick up one". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  18. ^ "West Coast-Tasman – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  19. ^ "West Coast-Tasman – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Official Count Results – West Coast-Tasman (2017)". Electoral Commission. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  21. ^ "Official Count Results – West Coast-Tasman (2014)". Electoral Commission. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Official Count Results – West Coast-Tasman (2011)". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  23. ^ "Enrolment statistics". Electoral Commission. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  24. ^ "Official Count Results – West Coast-Tasman (2008)". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Official Count Results – West Coast-Tasman (2005)". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
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