Eastern Maori

Eastern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Northern Maori, Western Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updated, and Eastern Maori was replaced with the Te Tai Rawhiti and Te Puku O Te Whenua electorates.

Population centres

The electorate included the population centres of Kawerau, Opotiki, Rotorua and Whakatane.

Tribal areas

The electorate included the tribal areas of Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāi Tai, Te Whakatōhea and Ngāti Porou.

History

Eastern Maori included Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty, and the Poverty Bay area down to Gisborne. Originally the electorate extended down the East Coast and included the Wairarapa, but in 1954 the boundaries of the Southern Maori electorate were extended to include much of the East Coast of the North Island up to Napier and Wairoa in Hawke's Bay.

The first Member of Parliament for Eastern Maori was Tareha Te Moananui, elected in 1868; he was the first Māori MP to speak in Parliament, and he retired in 1870.

James Carroll represented the electorate from 1887 to 1893, but in 1893 he changed to the Waiapu electorate and was replaced by Wi Pere who Carroll had defeated in 1887.

In the 1949 election, the incumbent, Tiaki Omana of the Labour Party, was unsuccessfully challenged by National's Turi Carroll.[1]

In the 1963 election, Puti Tipene Watene was elected. He was a Mormon and was the first non-Ratana to win a Maori seat since 1938.

With MMP Eastern Maori was replaced by the Te Tai Rawhiti electorate in 1996. Peter Tapsell, who had represented Eastern Maori since 1981 was defeated when he stood in the new electorate.

Members of Parliament

The Eastern Maori electorate was represented by ten Members of Parliament:[2]

Key

  Independent   Liberal   United   National   Labour

Election Winner
1868 Māori election Tareha Te Moananui
1871 election Karaitiana Takamoana
1876 election
1879 by-election Henare Tomoana
1879 election
1881 election
1884 election Wi Pere
1887 election James Carroll
1890 election
1893 election Wi Pere (2nd period)
1896 election
1899 election
1902 election
1905 election Āpirana Ngata
1908 election
1911 election
1914 election
1919 election
1922 election
1925 election
1928 election
1931 election
1935 election
1938 election
1943 election Tiaki Omana
1946 election
1949 election
1951 election
1954 election
1957 election
1960 election
1963 election Puti Tipene Watene
1966 election
1967 by-election Paraone Reweti
1969 election
1972 election
1975 election
1978 election
1981 election Peter Tapsell
1984 election
1987 election
1990 election
1993 election

Election results

Note that the affiliation of many early candidates is not known.

1993 election
1993 general election: Eastern Maori[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Tapsell 9,311 63.52 -7.40
Alliance Alamein Kopu 2,645 18.04
Mana Māori Tame Iti 1,388 9.46
National Jim Gray 664 4.52
Christian Heritage Mere Wirepa 404 2.75
Natural Law Molly Para 246 1.67
Majority 6,666 45.47 -7.95
Turnout 14,658 61.64 +0.37
Registered electors 23,779

1990 election
1990 general election: Eastern Maori[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Tapsell 9,085 70.92 -3.19
Mana Motuhake Wi Kuki Kaa 2,241 17.49
National Jim Ngatai Connelly 1,484 11.58
Majority 6,844 53.42 -7.08
Turnout 12,810 61.27 -9.24
Registered electors 20,906

1987 election
1987 general election: Eastern Maori[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Tapsell 10,653 74.11 -10.07
Mana Motuhake Amster Reedy 1,957 13.61
National Jim Gray 1,321 9.19
Democrats G M Ngakaru 442 3.07
Majority 8,696 60.50 -16.45
Turnout 14,373 70.51 -7.28
Registered electors 20,384

1984 election
1984 general election: Eastern Maori[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Tapsell 12,285 84.18 +20.39
National Barry Kiwara 1,055 7.22
Mana Motuhake B K T McLean 575 3.94
NZ Party Rawinia Heremaia 400 2.74
Social Credit T K Te Aweawe 277 1.89
Majority 11,230 76.95 -0.35
Turnout 14,592 77.79 +0.49
Registered electors 18,757

1981 election
1981 general election: Eastern Maori[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Tapsell 8,222 63.79
Mana Motuhake Albert Tahana 1,990 15.43
National Charles Little 1,505 11.67
Social Credit R T Tibble 1,172 9.09
Majority 6,232 48.35
Turnout 12,889 77.30 +26.02
Registered electors 16,673

1978 election
1978 general election: Eastern Maori[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paraone Reweti 9,085 74.79 +0.81
National Monty Searancke 1,685 13.87 -5.56
Social Credit T Te Hira 1,195 9.83
Values H Te M Kaa 182 1.49
Majority 7,400 60.92 +6.37
Turnout 12,147 51.28 -18.53
Registered electors 23,684

1975 election
1975 general election: Eastern Maori[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paraone Reweti 8,491 73.98 +1.33
National Monty Searancke 2,230 19.43
Social Credit Manu Te Pere 548 4.77
Values Danny Stevens 208 1.81
Majority 6,261 54.55 +3.63
Turnout 11,477 69.81 -16.19
Registered electors 16,439

1972 election
1972 general election: Eastern Maori[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paraone Reweti 8,831 72.65 +10.64
National Koro Dewes 2,641 21.72
Social Credit R Rangi 505 4.15
New Democratic T T Clarke 177 1.45
Majority 6,190 50.92 +21.09
Turnout 12,154 86.00 +2.84
Registered electors 14,131

1969 election
1969 general election: Eastern Maori[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paraone Reweti 7,247 62.01 +12.52
National Henare Ngata 3,760 32.17
Social Credit Maanu Paul 679 5.81 -7.72
Majority 3,487 29.83 +7.15
Turnout 11,686 83.16 +22.46
Registered electors 14,051

1967 by-election
1967 Eastern Maori by-election[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paraone Reweti 4,460 49.49
National Arnold Reedy 2,416 26.81 -3.93
Social Credit Maanu Paul 1,219 13.53 +3.11
Independent Maori Don Bennett 671 7.45
Independent Te Okanga Huata 246 2.73
Majority 2,044 22.68
Turnout 9,012 60.70 -15.58
Registered electors 14,849
Labour hold Swing

1966 election
1966 general election: Eastern Maori[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Puti Tipene Watene 6,537 58.83 +3.83
National Arnold Reedy 3,416 30.74 -3.43
Social Credit Maanu Paul 1,158 10.42
Majority 3,121 28.08 +7.25
Turnout 11,111 76.28 -7.03
Registered electors 14,566

1963 election
1963 general election: Eastern Maori[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Puti Tipene Watene 6,775 55.00
National Arnold Reedy 4,209 34.17 +9.49
Social Credit R W Smith 741 6.01
Independent B A Raukopa 230 1.86
Independent P H Baker 157 1.27
Liberal R Rangi 112 0.90
Ind. Social Credit M W Sadler 92 0.74
Majority 2,566 20.83
Turnout 12,316 83.31 +3.30
Registered electors 14,783

1960 election
1960 general election: Eastern Maori[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tiaki Omana 5,809 51.49 -8.43
Social Credit Arnold Reedy 2,784 24.68 +6.25
National Henry Reiwhati Vercoe 2,496 22.12
Independent Mita Carter 191 1.69
Majority 3,025 26.81 -11.47
Turnout 11,280 80.01 -6.17
Registered electors 14,098

1957 election
1957 general election: Eastern Maori[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tiaki Omana 6,569 59.92 -0.81
National Wiremu Hoete Maxwell 2,372 21.63
Social Credit Arnold Reedy 2,021 18.43
Majority 4,197 38.28 +11.50
Turnout 10,962 86.18 +1.59
Registered electors 12,719

1954 election
1954 general election: Eastern Maori[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tiaki Omana 7,015 60.73 -2.41
National Claude Anaru 3,921 33.94
Social Credit Wilson Paku 614 5.31
Majority 3,094 26.78 +0.51
Turnout 11,550 84.59 -13.30
Registered electors 13,654

1951 election
1951 General election: Eastern Maori[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tiaki Omana 8,905 63.14 +1.48
National Turi Carroll 5,199 36.86 -1.48
Majority 3,706 26.27 +2.94
Turnout 14,104 97.89 -9.79
Registered electors 14,407

1949 election
1949 general election: Eastern Maori[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tiaki Omana 8,487 61.66 +7.68
National Turi Carroll 5,276 38.34
Majority 3,211 23.33 +12.15
Turnout 13,763 107.68
Registered electors 12,781

The number of electors on Maori rolls was often inaccurate hence the impossible turnout figures.[5]

1946 election
1946 general election: Eastern Maori[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tiaki Omana 7,321 53.98
National Āpirana Ngata 5,804 42.79
Informal votes 439 3.23
Majority 1,517 11.18
Turnout 13,564

1931 election
1931 general election: Eastern Maori[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United Āpirana Ngata 5,105 71.91 +1.70
Ratana Pita Moko 1,994 28.09 +1.90
Majority 3,111 43.82
Turnout 7,099

1928 election
1928 general election: Eastern Maori[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United Āpirana Ngata 4,950 70.21
Ratana Pita Moko 1,846 26.18
Labour Robert Panapa Tutaki 254 3.60
Majority 3,104 44.03
Turnout 7,050

1899 election
1899 general election: Eastern Maori[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Wi Pere 2,294 40.52 -20.70
Mohi Te Atahikoia 1,387 24.50
Hurinui Apanui 1,316 23.25
Kereru Numia 331 5.85
Tare Mete 207 3.66 -9.86
Tamati Haweti 126 2.23
Majority 907 16.02
Turnout 5,661

1896 election
1896 general election: Eastern Maori[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Wi Pere 2,549 61.22
Tamati Tautuhi 805 19.33
Tare Mete 563 13.52
Maika Taruhe 182 4.37
Eriata Nopera 65 1.56
Majority 1,744 41.88
Turnout 4,164

1879 by-election
1879 Eastern Maori by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Henare Tomoana 652 37.84
Independent Henare Matua 583 33.84
Independent Hans Tapsell 429 24.90
Independent Henare Te Pukuatua 59 3.42
Majority 69 4.00
Turnout 1723

Notes
  1. Rorke, Jinty. "Turi Carroll". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
  3. Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1993. p. 146.
  4. Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1990. p. 153.
  5. Norton 1988, p. 396.
  6. Norton 1988, p. 395.
  7. "The General Election, 1949". National Library. 1950. pp. 1–5, 8. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  8. "The General Election, 1946". National Library. 1947. pp. 1–11, 14. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  9. The General Election, 1931. Government Printer. 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  10. Skinner 1929, p. 7.
  11. "The General Election, 1899". Wellington: Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives. 19 June 1900. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  12. "Untitled". Poverty Bay Herald. Vol. XXIV, no. 7816. 4 January 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 16 January 2014.

References
  • Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
  • Skinner, W. A. G. (1929). The General Election, 1928. Government Printer. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
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