Henderson (New Zealand electorate)

Henderson was first created through the 1967 electoral redistribution, which resulted from the Electoral Act 1965 that fixed the number of South Island electorates at 25. As a result, three additional electorates were created in the North Island, and one additional in the South Island. One of those new electorates was Henderson, which took over most of Waitakere's area. These changes came into effect with the 1969 election.[1] Localities that were covered by the electorate include Henderson, Oratia, Waiatarua, Parau, Huia, and Piha.[2] In the 1972 electoral redistribution, there were slight boundary adjustments with the adjoining Waitemata and New Lynn electorates.[3] Henderson existed for three electoral cycles and was abolished again through the 1977 electoral redistribution, when Waitakere was recreated; this came into effect with the 1978 election.[4]

Henderson was recreated for the 1993 election and existed for one parliamentary term. In 1996, the first mixed-member proportional (MMP) election, the area was absorbed into the new Waipareira electorate.

Martyn Finlay of the Labour Party had been Waitakere's representative since the 1963 election. He transferred to the Henderson electorate and was successful against three different National Party opponents in 1969, 1972, and 1975. When Henderson was abolished for 1978 election, Finlay went into retirement.[5]

• McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
• 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.