Remuera (New Zealand electorate)
# Remuera (New Zealand electorate)

Remuera is a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland. It existed from 1938, when it replaced the Parnell electorate, until 1996. It was consistently held by members of the National Party.

## Population centres

The 1931 New Zealand census had been cancelled due to the Great Depression, so the 1937 electoral redistribution had to take ten years of population growth into account. The increasing population imbalance between the North and South Islands had slowed, and only one electorate seat was transferred from south to north. Five electorates were abolished, one former electorate (Onehunga) was re-established, and four electorates were created for the first time, including Remuera. The Remuera electorate replaced the Parnell electorate, covering almost exactly the same area as Parnell had since the 1927 electoral redistribution.

For the purposes of the country quota, the 1936 census had determined that the Remuera electorate was fully urban. The electorate comprised a number of east Auckland suburbs, most notably Remuera itself. The area is high-income, and has been represented by a succession of National Party MPs.

## History

The electorate existed from 1938 to 1996. The first representative was Bill Endean, who served from 1938 for one term to 1943. Endean was controversial within the National Party and in the party's 50-year history written by Barry Gustafson, it is remarked that in 1938, there was "some resistance to the National MP" in the Remuera electorate. His nomination for the planned 1941 general election only occurred after Sidney Holland had stepped in. The 1941 election was postponed due to the war, though, and Endean failed to get selected by the National Party for the 1943 election; Ronald Algie was chosen instead. Endean was overseas at the time of the selection, but even if he had been present, Gustafson believes that the "elderly, dull Endean would have been no match for the clever and witty Algie". Endean was the first sitting National MP who failed to get re-selected.

On election night 1987 a shock upset in the electorate was predicted. Labour candidate Judith Tizard came within 406 votes of winning the National Party bastion of Remuera, being predicted as the winner after initial vote counting. Labour's temporary surge amongst traditional National stalwarts caused Prime Minister David Lange to question the direction his government was taking. In a 1996 interview he recalled, "That election night was a great revelation for me. That was an apprehension on my part that we had actually abandoned our constituency. And it set me to think what on earth have we done that we come within 400 votes of winning the true-blue seat of Remuera. And that struck me as being a dangerous flirtation, and an act of treachery to the people we were born to represent."

With the introduction of mixed-member proportional (MMP) representation in 1996, Remuera was included in the new electorate of Epsom.

### Members of Parliament

Key

National

| Election | Winner |
| - | - |
| 1938 election | Bill Endean |
| 1943 election | Ronald Algie |
| 1946 election | Ronald Algie |
| 1949 election | Ronald Algie |
| 1951 election | Ronald Algie |
| 1954 election | Ronald Algie |
| 1957 election | Ronald Algie |
| 1960 election | Ronald Algie |
| 1963 election | Ronald Algie |
| 1966 election | Allan Highet |
| 1969 election | Allan Highet |
| 1972 election | Allan Highet |
| 1975 election | Allan Highet |
| 1978 election | Allan Highet |
| 1981 election | Allan Highet |
| 1984 election | Doug Graham |
| 1987 election | Doug Graham |
| 1990 election | Doug Graham |
| 1993 election | Doug Graham |
| (Electorate abolished in 1996; see Epsom) |||

## Election results

### 1993 election

1993 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Doug Graham | 12,584 | 59.94 | +0.64 |
| | Alliance | Mary Tierney | 3,965 | 18.88 | |
| | Labour | Peter Haynes | 3,633 | 17.30 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | Kerry Hoole | 347 | 1.65 | +0.68 |
| | Christian Heritage | Joanne Phimster | 247 | 1.17 | |
| | Natural Law | Graeme Lodge | 129 | 0.61 | |
| | Defence Movement | Luke Holmes | 86 | 0.40 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,619 | 41.06 | +6.02 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,991 | 85.20 | +0.65 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,636 | | |

### 1990 election

1990 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Doug Graham | 11,777 | 59.30 | +9.80 |
| | Labour | Carl Harding | 4,409 | 22.20 | |
| | Green | Mark Fitzsimons | 2,682 | 13.50 | |
| | NewLabour | Wayne Hope | 599 | 3.01 | |
| | McGillicuddy Serious | Kerry Hoole | 194 | 0.97 | |
| | Democrats | Thomas Keith Park | 114 | 0.57 | |
| | Blokes Liberation Front | Russell Duulroo | 85 | 0.42 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,368 | 37.09 | +35.04 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,860 | 84.55 | -3.25 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,487 | | |

### 1987 election

1987 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Doug Graham | 9,770 | 49.50 | +5.00 |
| | Labour | Judith Tizard | 9,364 | 47.44 | |
| | Democrats | B F Clegg | 319 | 1.61 | |
| | NZ Party | Sue Martin | 175 | 0.88 | |
| | Revolutionary Army | Sibling Ward | 107 | 0.54 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 406 | 2.05 | -14.98 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,735 | 87.80 | -2.73 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,477 | | |

### 1984 election

1984 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Doug Graham | 9,102 | 44.50 | |
| | NZ Party | Kenneth Sandford | 5,619 | 27.47 | |
| | Labour | Wayne Kingsley Sellwood | 4,914 | 24.02 | |
| | Social Credit | Thomas Keith Park | 599 | 2.92 | |
| | Values | Cathryn Symons | 217 | 1.06 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,483 | 17.03 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,451 | 90.53 | +5.84 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,590 | | |

### 1981 election

1981 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Allan Highet | 9,360 | 53.75 | -1.59 |
| | Labour | Judith Tizard | 4,525 | 25.98 | |
| | Social Credit | Eddie Hagen | 2,755 | 15.82 | +3.83 |
| | Values | Jeanette Fitzsimons | 475 | 2.72 | -4.77 |
| | Independent | Malcolm Moses | 189 | 1.08 | |
| | Liberal Democratic | B R Harker | 107 | 0.61 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,105 | 29.32 | -4.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,411 | 84.69 | +28.91 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,557 | | |

### 1978 election

1978 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Allan Highet | 9,511 | 55.34 | -8.38 |
| | Labour | Lee Goffin | 3,740 | 21.76 | |
| | Social Credit | Eddie Hagen | 2,062 | 11.99 | |
| | Values | Jeanette Fitzsimons | 1,288 | 7.49 | |
| | Christian Democratic | Tom Weal | 338 | 1.96 | |
| | Right to Life | Patricia Sue Crowther | 245 | 1.42 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,771 | 33.58 | -14.45 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,184 | 55.78 | -23.65 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 30,806 | | |

### 1975 election

1975 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Allan Highet | 11,483 | 63.72 | +4.08 |
| | Labour | G B Mead | 2,827 | 15.68 | |
| | Values | Bill Davies | 2,363 | 13.11 | |
| | Social Credit | Peggy Clark | 809 | 4.48 | -0.91 |
| | Right to Life | L D B Gee | 483 | 2.68 | |
| | Alpha | C C Wallace | 55 | 0.30 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,656 | 48.03 | +11.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,020 | 79.43 | -9.12 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,685 | | |

### 1972 election

1972 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Allan Highet | 9,869 | 59.64 | -7.19 |
| | Labour | Rex Stanton | 3,751 | 22.67 | |
| | Values | Reg Clough | 1,736 | 10.49 | |
| | Social Credit | Peggy Clark | 893 | 5.39 | +0.04 |
| | Independent | Clyde Campbell | 237 | 1.43 | |
| | New Democratic | Bruce William Cox | 59 | 0.35 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,118 | 36.97 | -2.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,545 | 88.55 | +1.12 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,684 | | |

### 1969 election

1969 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Allan Highet | 12,153 | 66.83 | +0.59 |
| | Labour | Hamish Keith | 5,056 | 27.80 | |
| | Social Credit | Peggy Clark | 974 | 5.35 | -5.47 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,097 | 39.03 | -4.65 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,183 | 87.43 | -3.80 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,795 | | |

### 1966 election

1966 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Allan Highet | 10,127 | 66.42 | |
| | Labour | Bill Nairn | 3,467 | 22.74 | |
| | Social Credit | Peggy Clark | 1,651 | 10.82 | +6.58 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,660 | 43.68 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,245 | 83.63 | -4.04 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,227 | | |

### 1963 election

1963 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Ronald Algie | 10,772 | 68.10 | +0.06 |
| | Labour | Frederick Nelson Goodall | 3,771 | 23.84 | |
| | Social Credit | Peggy Clark | 672 | 4.24 | |
| | Liberal | Owen Alfred Addison | 602 | 3.80 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,001 | 44.26 | +3.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,817 | 87.67 | +0.26 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,041 | | |

### 1960 election

1960 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Ronald Algie | 10,212 | 68.04 | +5.06 |
| | Labour | Barry Gustafson | 4,103 | 27.34 | |
| | Social Credit | Margaret Morley | 692 | 4.61 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,109 | 40.70 | +9.81 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,007 | 87.41 | -5.11 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,167 | | |

### 1957 election

1957 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Ronald Algie | 9,717 | 62.98 | +3.85 |
| | Labour | Russell Gordon Penney | 4,951 | 32.09 | |
| | Social Credit | Ethel Maude Wood | 759 | 4.91 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,766 | 30.89 | +5.99 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,427 | 92.52 | +3.79 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,674 | | |

### 1954 election

1954 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Ronald Algie | 8,415 | 59.13 | -12.94 |
| | Labour | Bob Tizard | 4,871 | 34.23 | +6.31 |
| | Social Credit | Horace Leslie Richards | 944 | 6.63 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,544 | 24.90 | -19.25 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,230 | 88.73 | +1.07 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,037 | | |

### 1951 election

1951 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Ronald Algie | 8,727 | 72.07 | +2.04 |
| | Labour | Bob Tizard | 3,381 | 27.92 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,346 | 44.15 | +4.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,108 | 87.66 | -5.17 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,811 | | |

### 1949 election

1949 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Ronald Algie | 8,878 | 70.03 | +2.55 |
| | Labour | Hugh Watt | 3,799 | 29.96 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,079 | 40.06 | +5.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,677 | 92.83 | +0.75 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,655 | | |

### 1946 election

1946 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Ronald Algie | 8,512 | 67.48 | +10.79 |
| | Labour | James Freeman | 4,102 | 32.51 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,410 | 34.96 | +15.05 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,614 | 92.08 | -1.15 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,698 | | |

### 1943 election

1943 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Ronald Algie | 11,907 | 56.69 | |
| | Labour | Martyn Finlay | 7,724 | 36.77 | |
| | Democratic Labour | Leo Patrick McMahon | 439 | 2.09 | |
| | People's Movement | Edward William Sinton | 296 | 1.40 | |
| | Independent | Hugh Kendal | 278 | 1.32 | |
| | Real Democracy | Suzanne Mabel Milne | 165 | 0.78 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 193 | 0.91 | +0.11 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,183 | 19.91 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,002 | 93.23 | +0.99 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,527 | | |

### 1938 election

1938 general election: Remuera :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Bill Endean | 9,605 | 58.27 |
| | Labour | Mary Dreaver | 6,744 | 40.91 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 132 | 0.80 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,861 | 17.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,481 | 92.24 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,866 | |
