Wellington Central (New Zealand electorate)

Wellington Central is an electorate, represented by a Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Wellington Central is Tamatha Paul of the Green Party. She has held this position since the 2023 general election[1].

For the suburb, see Wellington Central.

Wellington Central
Single-member constituency
for the New Zealand House of Representatives
Outline map
Location of Wellington Central within Wellington
RegionWellington
Current constituency
Created1996 (current form)
1905 (original)
Current MPTamatha Paul
PartyGreen

Population centres

Through the City Single Electorates Act, 1903, the three-member electorates of the four main centres were split again, and this became effective at the end of the 15th Parliament and was thus used for the 1905 election. The City of Wellington electorate split into the Wellington East, Wellington Central, and Wellington North electorates.[2]

As of 1999 Wellington Central covered the central city and its immediate suburban periphery, stretching from Karori, Wilton and Wadestown in the west, to the summit of Mount Victoria in the east, and southwards to a boundary with the Rongotai electorate near Wellington Hospital. Prior to the 1999 election, its boundaries extended further north to include the affluent suburbs of Ngaio and Khandallah.

Wellington Central has one of the most affluent and well-educated constituencies in New Zealand. It is home to many government agencies, as well as to the New Zealand Parliament Buildings and to two universities.

Following the 2014 boundary review, Wellington Central lost the suburb of Wadestown to the Ōhāriu electorate.

History

Wellington Central was established in 1905 when the multi-member urban electorate City of Wellington was replaced by three new seats: Wellington East, Wellington North and Wellington Central. A prominent holder of the seat was Labour Party leader Peter Fraser, who was Prime Minister from 1940 to 1949. Wellington Central was nominally abolished in 1993, when a redistribution moved its boundary west, resulting in the new name of Wellington-Karori. Pauline Gardiner won the Wellington-Karori seat in 1993. Three years later, a new, larger Wellington Central was created as one of the 65 original MMP constituencies in time for the 1996 election.

The first elected MMP representative was ACT Party leader Richard Prebble, controversially elected in 1996 after National Party leader Jim Bolger indicated that National voters should give their electorate vote to Prebble, rather than to National candidate Mark Thomas, in order for ACT to get into parliament. Prebble would eventually become the third representative from Wellington Central in three elections to face defeat after a single term in office. Labour's Marian Hobbs held the seat from 1999, when she defeated Prebble, until 2008, when she retired. Grant Robertson retained Labour's hold on the seat in 2008 and has held the seat since.

A documentary, Campaign, directed by Tony Sutorius, highlighted the events surrounding the 1996 campaign in the electorate.[3]

Members of Parliament

Key

  New Liberal   Independent   Reform   Liberal
  Labour   National   ACT   Green
Election Winner
1905 election Francis Fisher
1908 election
1911 election
1914 election Robert Fletcher
1918 by-election Peter Fraser
1919 election
1922 election
1925 election
1928 election
1931 election
1935 election
1938 election
1943 election
1946 election Charles Chapman
1949 election
1951 election
1954 election Frank Kitts
1957 election
1960 election Dan Riddiford
1963 election
1966 election
1969 election
1972 election Ken Comber
1975 election
1978 election
1981 election Fran Wilde
1984 election
1987 election
1990 election
1992 by-election Chris Laidlaw
(electorate abolished 1993–1996, see Wellington-Karori)
1996 election Richard Prebble
1999 election Marian Hobbs
2002 election
2005 election
2008 election Grant Robertson
2011 election
2014 election
2017 election
2020 election
2023 election Tamatha Paul

List MPs

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

Election Winner
1999 election Richard Prebble
2002 election Stephen Franks
Sue Kedgley
2005 election Mark Blumsky
Sue Kedgley
2008 election Sue Kedgley
Heather Roy
2013 Paul Foster-Bell1
2014 election James Shaw
Paul Foster-Bell
2017 election James Shaw
2018 Nicola Willis2
2020 election James Shaw
Nicola Willis
Brooke van Velden

1Foster-Bell was elected from the party list in May 2013 following the resignation of Jackie Blue.
2Willis was elected from the party list in April 2018 following the resignation of Steven Joyce.

Election results

2023 election
2023 general election: Wellington Central[4]
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 % ±%
Green Tamatha Paul 12,630 38.55 +21.01 11,820 36.08 +5.75
Labour Ibrahim Omer 9,306 28.41 -28.85 8,501 25.95 -17.45
National Scott Sheeran 8,812 26.9 +9.14 7,342 22.41 +7.98
Opportunities Natalia Albert 1,041 3.18 +1.02 1,743 5.32 +1.6
NZ First Taylor Arneil 340 1.04 +1.04 745 2.27 +1.16
Legalise Cannabis Michael Appleby 219 0.67 -0.17 76 0.23 -0.04
Animal Justice Christopher Gordon 70 0.21 +0.21 46 0.14 +0.14
Vision NZ Meg Lim 59 0.18 +0.18
Workers Now Don Franks 42 0.13 +0.13
Independent Karl Thomas Geiringer 29 0.09 +0.09
Independent Pete Bains 25 0.08 +0.08
ACT   1,490 4.55 -0.31
Te Pāti Māori   724 2.21 +1.68
New Zealand Loyal   48 0.15 +0.15
NewZeal   38 0.12 +0.12
Women's Rights   32 0.10 +0.10
Freedoms NZ   23 0.07 0
New Conservative   18 0.05 -0.37
New Nation   14 0.04 +0.04
DemocracyNZ   9 0.03 +0.03
Leighton Baker Party   9 0.03 +0.03
Informal votes 188 81
Total Valid votes 32,761 32,759
Turnout
Green gain from Labour Majority

2020 election
2020 general election: Wellington Central[5]
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 Grant Robertson 27,366 57.26 +8 20,876 43.4 +5.11
National Nicola Willis 8,488 17.76 −7.99 6,937 14.43 −16.1
Green James Shaw 8,381 17.54 +2.15 14,587 30.33 +8.99
Opportunities Abe Gray 1,031 2.16 −4.66 1,790 3.72 −2.17
ACT Brooke van Velden 865 1.81 +1.5 2,339 4.86 +4.09
Legalise Cannabis Michael Appleby 401 0.84 — 132 0.27 +0.7
Independent Jesse Richardson 385 0.81
New Conservative Liam Richfield 401 0.45 204 0.42 +0.35
Advance NZ Rose Greally 108 0.23 103 0.21
ONE Gina Sunderland 84 0.18 56 0.12
Outdoors Bruce Robert 76 0.16 27 0.06 +0.03
NZ First   537 1.11 -1.15
Māori Party   255 0.53 -0.01
Sustainable NZ   32 0.07
Social Credit   18 0.04
TEA   12 0.02
Vision NZ   8 0.01
Heartland   1 0.00
Informal votes 386 176
Total Valid votes 47,787 48,090
Turnout 48,090 88.97[6] +2.41
Labour hold Majority 18,878 39.5 +15.99

2017 election
2017 general election: Wellington Central[7]
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 Grant Robertson 20,873 49.26 −2.38 16,500 38.29 +14.51
National Nicola Willis 10,910 25.75 −4.34 13,156 30.53 −7.01
Green James Shaw 6,520 15.39 +2.15 9,198 21.34 −8.16
Opportunities Geoff Simmons 2,892 6.82 — 2,538 5.89 —
NZ First Andy Foster 797 1.88 +0.37 972 2.26 −1.32
Independent Gayaal Iddamalgoda 161 0.38 —
ACT Michael Warren 131 0.31 — 330 0.77 +0.07
Independent Peter Robinson 71 0.17 −0.11
Not A Party Bob Wessex 19 0.04 —
Māori Party   225 0.52 −0.25
Legalise Cannabis   55 0.13 −0.19
Conservative   29 0.07 −1.44
United Future   28 0.06 −0.24
Mana   14 0.03 −1.45[lower-alpha 1]
Ban 1080   13 0.03 −0.02
Outdoors   11 0.03 —
People's Party   10 0.03 —
Internet   9 0.02 −1.46[lower-alpha 2]
Democrats   6 0.01 −0.06
Informal votes 194 72
Total Valid votes 42,374 43,094
Turnout 43,166 86.56[8] +2.42
Labour hold Majority 9,963 23.51 +1.95

2014 election
2014 general election: Wellington Central[9]
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 Grant Robertson 19,807 51.64 +2.49 9,306 23.78 -2.78
National Paul Foster-Bell 11,540 30.09 -2.42 14,689 37.54 -0.88
Green James Shaw 5,077 13.24 -0.39 11,545 29.50 +1.81
NZ First Hugh Barr 580 1.51 +0.78 1,399 3.58 +0.70
Legalise Cannabis Alistair Gregory 353 0.92 -0.13 127 0.32 -0.09
Conservative Brian Hooper 307 0.80 +0.18 590 1.51 +0.82
Internet Callum Valentine 217 0.57 +0.57
Independent Peter Robinson 90 0.23 +0.23
Democrats James Knuckey 57 0.15 +0.15 26 0.07 +0.03
Independent Puhi Karena 52 0.14 +0.06
Internet Mana   578 1.48 +0.85[lower-alpha 3]
Maori Party   300 0.77 +0.06
ACT   274 0.70 -0.47
United Future   117 0.30 -0.35
Civilian   49 0.13 +0.13
Ban 1080   20 0.05 +0.05
Focus   5 0.01 +0.01
Independent Coalition   5 0.01 +0.01
Informal votes 273 101
Total Valid votes 38,353 39,131
Turnout 39,232 84.14 +2.33
Labour hold Majority 8,267 21.56 +4.92

2011 election
2011 general election: Wellington Central[10]
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 Grant Robertson 18,836 49.15 +6.97 10,459 26.56 -8.01
National Paul Foster-Bell 12,460 32.51 -4.96 15,128 38.42 +3.01
Green James Shaw 5,225 13.63 -1.14 10,903 27.69 +7.08
ACT Stephen Whittington 412 1.07 -1.21 462 1.17 -2.78
Legalise Cannabis Michael Appleby 404 1.05 +0.05 161 0.41 +0.15
NZ First Ben Craven 279 0.73 +0.73 1,132 2.88 +1.35
Pirate Gynn Rickerby 277 0.72 +0.72
Conservative Paul Stipkovits 236 0.62 +0.62 270 0.69 +0.69
Libertarianz Reagan Cutting 69 0.18 -0.01 40 0.10 -0.01
Alliance Kelly Buchanan 52 0.14 +0.14 18 0.05 -0.003
New Economics Laurence Boomert 44 0.11 +0.11
Independent Puhi Karena 32 0.08 +0.08
Maori Party   278 0.71 -0.15
United Future   256 0.65 -0.35
Mana   250 0.63 +0.63
Democrats   15 0.04 +0.03
Informal votes 411 153
Total Valid votes 38,326 39,372
Labour hold Majority 6,376 16.64 +11.92

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 48,316[11]

2008 election
2008 general election: Wellington Central[12]
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 Grant Robertson 17,046 42.18 14,244 34.57
National Stephen Franks 15,142 37.47 14,589 35.41
Green Sue Kedgley 5,971 14.78 8,494 20.62
ACT Heather Roy 922 2.28 1,628 3.95
Legalise Cannabis Michael Appleby 407 1.01 108 0.26
United Future Vaughan Smith 226 0.56 412 1.00
Workers Party Don Franks 171 0.42 38 0.09
Progressive David Somerset 141 0.35 272 0.66
Kiwi Rebekah Clement 106 0.26 84 0.20
Libertarianz Bernard Darnton 75 0.19 48 0.12
RAM Grant Brookes 61 0.15 13 0.03
Independent Al Mansell 58 0.14 –
RONZ Justin Harnish 46 0.11 5 0.01
Alliance Richard Wallis 39 0.10 20 0.05
NZ First   629 1.53
Maori Party   351 0.85
Bill and Ben   215 0.52
Family Party   38 0.09
Pacific   8 0.02
Democrats   4 0.01
Informal votes 229 86
Total Valid votes 40,411 41,200
Labour hold Majority 1,904

2005 election
2005 general election: Wellington Central[13]
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 Marian Hobbs 20,199 49.32 +8.26 17,936 43.26
National Mark Blumsky 14,019 34.23 +4.69 13,513 32.59
Green Sue Kedgley 3,737 9.12 -3.93 6,530 15.75
ACT Stephen Franks 1,254 3.06 848 2.05
United Future Fiona McKenzie 593 1.45 1,068 2.58
Legalise Cannabis Michael Appleby 426 1.04 98 0.24
Progressive David Somerset 173 0.26 309 0.75
Anti-Capitalist Alliance Stephen Hay 107 0.26
Libertarianz Bernard Darnton 79 0.19 42 0.10
Alliance Kane O'Connell 79 0.19 35 0.08
NZ First   707 1.71
Maori Party   168 0.41
Destiny   67 0.16
Christian Heritage   24 0.06
Democrats   10 0.02
99 MP   8 0.02
RONZ   4 0.01
Family Rights   3 0.01
Direct Democracy   2 0.00
One NZ   1 0.00
Informal votes 288 86
Total Valid votes 40,954 41,459
Labour hold Majority 6,180 15.09 +3.57

1999 election

The National party did not stand a candidate in this election because of the events of the 1996 Wellington Central election where then leader Prime Minister Jim Bolger withdrew support for National’s candidate Mark Thomas just before the election in preference for Act leader Richard Prebble.

The absence of a National candidate in this election did not help Richard Prebble and he lost the seat to new Labour candidate Marian Hobbs.

1999 general election: Wellington Central[14][15]
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 Marian Hobbs 17,470 48.37 +18.12 11,960 32.71 +6.41
ACT Red XN Richard Prebble 15,988 44.27 +9.49 2,807 7.68 +1.07
Legalise Cannabis Michael Appleby 787 2.18 +0.93 582 1.59 -0.63
Christian Democrats Anthony Walton 394 1.09 297 0.81
United NZ Kent Clark 324 0.90 -4.64 394 1.08 -1.72
NZ First Jonathan Mosen 308 0.85 +0.66 507 1.39 -0.32
Christian Heritage Leona Emberson-Ready 226 0.63 -0.10 315 0.86 -1.51[lower-alpha 4]
McGillicuddy Serious Amy Ross 218 0.60 +0.23 69 0.19 -0.10
Independent Marion Smith 218 0.60
Independent Lea Barker 76 0.21
Asia Pacific Bihua Fu 56 0.16 +0.02 0 0.00 -0.07
Natural Law Daniel Meares 50 0.14 +0.01 36 0.10 -0.01
National   13,086 35.79 -9.88
Green   3,543 9.69
Alliance   2,787 7.62 -1.54
Libertarianz   78 0.21 +0.16
Animals First   43 0.12 -0.05
Mauri Pacific   21 0.06
Mana Māori   11 0.03 -0.08
NMP   10 0.03
South Island   8 0.02
Republican   3 0.01
Freedom Movement   2 0.01
The People's Choice   2 0.01
One NZ   1 0.00
Informal votes 631 184
Total Valid votes 36,115 36,562
Labour gain from ACT Majority 1,482 4.10 +13.81

1996 election

The 1996 election, the first under the new electoral system MMP, saw ACT candidate and former Labour Cabinet Minister Richard Prebble compete against former National Party Wellington-Karori MP Pauline Gardiner now standing for United New Zealand, the National party candidate Mark Thomas, Labour's Alick Shaw and Danna Glendining for the Alliance.

The election campaign saw Prime Minister Jim Bolger endorse Richard Prebble shortly before the election in preference to Thomas. The events were captured in the movie Campaign.[16] The electorate was won by Richard Prebble.[17]

1996 general election: Wellington Central[17]
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 % ±%
ACT Richard Prebble 14,269 34.78 2,717 6.61
Labour Alick Shaw 12,409 30.25 10,816 26.30
National Mark Thomas 8,794 21.44 18,780 45.67
United NZ Red XN Pauline Gardiner 2,233 5.54 1,151 2.80
Alliance Danna Glendining 1,356 3.31 3,766 9.16
Legalise Cannabis Michael Appleby 513 1.25 912 2.22
NZ First Sarah Porter 480 1.17 707 1.71
Christian Coalition Robin Corner 300 0.73 973 2.37
Independent Andy Foster 214 0.52
McGillicuddy Serious Ross Gardner 151 0.37 121 0.29
Progressive Green Alison Davis 137 0.33 121 0.29
Asia Pacific Rama Ramanathan 59 0.14 27 0.07
Natural Law Daniel Meares 54 0.13 47 0.11
Mana Māori Waiariki Grace 27 0.13 47 0.11
Libertarianz Nikolas Haden 19 0.05 21 0.05
Independent Peter Franklin Robinson 11 0.03
Animals First   69 0.17
Ethnic Minority   23 0.06
Superannuitants & Youth   14 0.03
Green Society   11 0.03
Advance NZ 10 0.02
Conservatives   6 0.01
Te Tawharau   0 0.00
Informal votes 203 109
Total Valid votes 41,026 41,120
ACT win new seat Majority 1,860 15.09

1992 by-election
1992 Wellington Central by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chris Laidlaw 6,075 38.83 -2.55
National Pauline Gardiner 5,220 33.37 -6.90
Alliance Denis Welch 3,407 21.78 +4.361
Independent David Stevenson 389 2.49
Natural Law Ian Douglas 263 1.68
Christian Heritage Wayne Chapman 154 0.98
Independent Tim Shadbolt 64 0.41
Wizard Party Tony Catford 40 0.26
Values John Carter 17 0.11
Communist League Felicty Coggan 14 0.09
Christ's Ambassadors Union Victor Bryers 1 0.01
Majority 855 5.47 +4.34
Turnout 15,644 63.302 -25.372
Labour hold Swing

1990 election
1990 general election: Wellington Central[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Fran Wilde 9,069 41.39 -13.15
National Pauline Gardiner 8,823 40.26
Green Stephen Rainbow 3,164 14.45
NewLabour Jeff Montgomery 604 2.76
McGillicuddy Serious P P Clarke 175 0.80
Democrats R Henderson 49 0.22
Communist League Janet Roth 29 0.13
Majority 246 1.12 -20.55
Turnout 21,913 88.67 -1.43
Registered electors 24,714

1987 election
1987 general election: Wellington Central[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Fran Wilde 13,064 54.54 +6.27
National John Feast 7,873 32.87 +14.11
Democrats M D Binney 398 1.66
McGillicuddy Serious Mark Servian 160 0.66
Wizard Party Tony Catford 84 0.35 +0.04
Majority 5,191 21.67 +4.51
Turnout 21,579 90.10 -5.07
Registered electors 23,949

1984 election
1984 general election: Wellington Central[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Fran Wilde 11,579 48.27 +0.13
National Rosemary Young-Rouse 7,463 31.11
NZ Party John Feast 4,501 18.76
Social Credit Murray Belchamber 314 1.30
Wizard Party Tony Catford 76 0.31 -0.03
Independent Dean Matthews 51 0.21
Majority 4,116 17.16 +11.40
Turnout 23,984 95.17 +3.97
Registered electors 25,200

1981 election
1981 general election: Wellington Central[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Fran Wilde 10,719 48.14
National Ken Comber 9,436 42.38 -2.39
Social Credit Malcolm Ross 1,898 8.52
Independent Bill Manson 90 0.40
Wizard Party Tony Catford 76 0.34
Independent J F Stuart 43 0.19
Majority 1,283 5.76
Turnout 22,262 91.20 +36.04
Registered electors 24,410

1978 election
1978 general election: Wellington Central[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Ken Comber 9,741 44.77 -3.38
Labour Neville Pickering 8,825 40.56
Social Credit Ron England 1,893 8.70 +6.35
Values Karen Roper 1,217 5.59
Tory Mark Gregory Robinson 51 0.23
Progressive Kiwi David Mitchell 29 0.13 +0.07
Majority 916 4.21 -1.21
Turnout 21,756 55.16 -20.88
Registered electors 39,435

1975 election
1975 general election: Wellington Central[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Ken Comber 9,553 48.15 +3.27
Labour David Shand 8,477 42.73 -2.00
Values Des Kelly 1,326 6.68
Social Credit Ron England 467 2.35
Progressive Kiwi David Mitchell 13 0.06 -0.47
Majority 1,076 5.42 +5.28
Turnout 19,836 76.04 -82.56
Registered electors 26,083

1972 election
1972 general election: Wellington Central[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Ken Comber 8,088 44.88
Labour David Shand 8,061 44.73
Values Bob Overend 1,232 6.83
Social Credit William Roy Hill 455 2.52
New Democratic David Mitchell 97 0.53
Independent Kevin Alan Brown 87 0.48
Majority 27 0.14
Turnout 18,020 89.60 +3.85
Registered electors 20,111

1969 election
1969 general election: Wellington Central[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Dan Riddiford 8,467 51.61 -0.79
Labour Olive Smuts-Kennedy 6,267 38.20
Social Credit Godfrey Healy 842 5.13 -0.15
Independent Mike Mitchell 489 2.98
Independent Harry Low 264 1.60
Socialist Action George Fyson 76 0.46
Majority 2,200 13.41 +2.09
Turnout 16,405 85.75 +5.96
Registered electors 19,131

1966 election
1966 general election: Wellington Central[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Dan Riddiford 7,927 52.40 -0.26
Labour Rolland O'Regan 6,214 41.08
Social Credit Godfrey Healy 799 5.28
Democratic Harry Hughes 185 1.22
Majority 1,713 11.32 +2.35
Turnout 15,125 79.79 -8.44
Registered electors 18,954

1963 election
1963 general election: Wellington Central[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Dan Riddiford 8,852 52.66 +3.57
Labour Frank Kitts 7,344 43.69 -2.86
Social Credit D T Grooby 409 2.43
Communist Kenneth Stanton 111 0.66 -0.18
Independent H Trewby 92 0.54
Majority 1,508 8.97 +6.44
Turnout 16,808 88.23 +3.06
Registered electors 19,049

1960 election
1960 general election: Wellington Central[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Dan Riddiford 7,373 49.09
Labour Frank Kitts 6,992 46.55 -6.37
Social Credit Arthur Henry Norris 526 3.50 -0.61
Communist Kenneth Stanton 127 0.84
Majority 381 2.53
Turnout 15,018 85.17 -6.19
Registered electors 17,632

1957 election
1957 general election: Wellington Central[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Kitts 8,980 52.92 +3.45
National Max Wall 7,295 42.97
Social Credit Arthur Henry Norris 699 4.11
Majority 1,685 9.92 +5.92
Turnout 16,974 91.36 +6.06
Registered electors 18,579

1954 election
1954 general election: Wellington Central[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Kitts 7,752 49.47
National Allan Highet 7,125 45.47
Social Credit Eric Elliot 791 5.04
Majority 627 4.00
Turnout 15,668 85.30 +2.20
Registered electors 18,367

1951 election
1951 general election: Wellington Central[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Chapman 4,463 51.61 -1.40
National Berta Burns 4,186 48.39
Majority 277 3.20 -2.80
Turnout 8,649 83.10 -4.44
Registered electors 10,407

1949 election
1949 general election: Wellington Central[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Chapman 5,078 53.01 -4.82
National Will Appleton 4,503 46.99
Majority 575 6.00 -9.67
Turnout 9,581 87.54 -0.81
Registered electors 10,944

1946 election
1946 general election: Wellington Central[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Chapman 6,201 57.83
National Agnes Weston[nb 1] 4,521 42.17
Majority 1,680 15.67 +7.52
Informal votes 96 0.89 -0.60
Turnout 10,818 88.35 +7.75
Registered electors 12,245

Table footnotes:

  1. Claude Weston died suddenly on 10 November 1946 and was replaced by his wife[22][23]

1943 election
1943 general election: Wellington Central[24][25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 6,822 46.12 -16.74
National Will Appleton 5,616 37.97 +0.83
Independent Colin Scrimgeour 2,253 15.23
Independent Julius Hyde 100 0.68
Majority 1,206 8.15 -17.57
Informal votes 223 1.49 +0.89
Turnout 15,014 80.59 +6.15
Registered electors 18,629

1938 election
1938 general election: Wellington Central[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 9,376 62.86 -6.19
National Will Appleton 5,539 37.14
Majority 3,837 25.73 -12.37
Informal votes 89 0.59
Turnout 15,004 86.74 +5.05
Registered electors 17,297

1935 election
1935 general election: Wellington Central[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 7,673 69.43 12.17
United/Reform Will Mason 3,380 30.57
Majority 4,293 38.84 +16.41
Turnout 11,053

1931 election
1931 general election: Wellington Central[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 6,308 57.26 -3.55
United Robert Darroch 3,837 34.83
Independent Edward William Nicolaus 688 6.25
Communist Richard Francis Griffin 183 1.66
Majority 2,471 22.43 -6.17
Informal votes 91 0.82 -0.37
Turnout 11,107 74.82 -8.79
Registered electors 14,845

1928 election
1928 general election: Wellington Central[30][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 7,353 60.81
Reform Dunbar Sloane 3,895 32.21
Independent Labour Margaret Young 843 6.97
Majority 3,458 28.60
Informal votes 145 1.19
Turnout 12,236 83.61
Registered electors 14,635

1925 election
1925 general election: Wellington Central[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 5,459 64.02 -0.71
Reform Dunbar Sloane 3,069 35.98
Majority 2,390 28.02 -18.65
Turnout 8,528

1922 election
1922 general election: Wellington Central[33][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 5,827 64.73 +7.40
Independent William Bennett 1,625 18.05
Liberal–Labour Archibald Sievwright 1,550 17.21
Majority 4,202 46.67 +32.03
Informal votes 102 1.13
Turnout 9,002

1919 election
1919 general election: Wellington Central[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 4,486 57.33 +0.79
Liberal Frederick Pirani 3,430 42.67
Majority 1,146 14.64 -19.77
Turnout 7,826

1918 by-election
1918 Wellington Central by-election[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Fraser 2,668 56.54
Independent Labour Joe Mack 1,044 22.12
Liberal William Hildreth 784 16.61
Independent Harry Atmore 185 3.92
Independent Lindsay John Frederick Garmston 29 0.61
Independent William Cyril Tanner 9 0.19
Majority 1,624 34.41
Turnout 4,719 51.43 -33.04
Registered electors 9,176
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

1914 election
1914 general election: Wellington Central[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Fletcher 5,208 64.40
Reform Francis Fisher 2,879 35.60
Majority 2,329 28.80
Informal votes 84 1.03
Turnout 8,171 84.47
Registered electors 9,673

First ballot
1911 general election: Wellington Central[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Francis Fisher 2,987 39.71
Liberal Robert Fletcher 2,983 39.66
Labour Tom Young 1,372 18.24
Socialist Frank Freeman 180 2.39
Majority 4 0.05
Informal votes 121 1.58
Turnout 7,643 70.89
Registered electors 10,781

Second ballot
1911 general election: Wellington Central[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Francis Fisher 3,813 50.87
Liberal Robert Fletcher 3,682 49.13
Majority 131 1.75
Informal votes 19 0.25
Turnout 7,514 69.70
Registered electors 10,781

1905 election
1905 general election: Wellington Central[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Liberal Francis Fisher 3,142 48.63
Liberal Patrick O'Regan 2,698 41.76
Ind. Labour League Albert Cooper 243 3.76
Informal votes 90 1.39
Majority 444 6.87
Turnout 6,353

Table footnotes
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for Mana in 2011; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.
  4. 1999 Christian Heritage swing is relative to the votes for Christian Coalition in 1996; the Christian Coalition split back into the Christian Heritage Party and Christian Democrats.

Notes
  1. "Wellington Central – Preliminary Count". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  2. McRobie 1989, pp. 66ff.
  3. "Campaign | Film | NZ On Screen". Nzonscreen.com. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 14 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Wellington Central – Preliminary Count". Electoral Commission. 15 October 2023.
  5. "Official Count Results (2020) – Wellington Central". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020.
  6. "Voter turnout statistics for the 2020 General Election".
  7. "Official Count Results (2017) – Wellington Central". Electoral Commission. 7 October 2017.
  8. "Party Votes and Turnout by Electorate". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  9. "Official Count Results (2014) – Wellington Central". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014.
  10. "Official Count Results – Wellington Central". Electoral Commission. 10 December 2011.
  11. "Enrolment statistics". Electoral Commission. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  12. "2008 election results". 2008.electionresults.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  13. "election result Wellington Central 2005". 2005.electionresults.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  14. "Official Count Results (1999) – Electoral Votes for registered parties by electorate". NZ Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  15. "Official Count Results (1999) – Candidate Vote Details". NZ Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  16. "Campaign – Film – NZ On Screen". Nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  17. "Wellington 56" (PDF). Electionresults.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  18. Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1990.
  19. Norton 1988, pp. 387.
  20. Norton 1988, pp. 386.
  21. "The General Election, 1946". National Library. 1947. p. 11. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  22. Gustafson 1986, p. 389.
  23. "Claude Horace Weston". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 9 July 2022 – via Online Cenotaph.
  24. "The General Election, 1943". National Library. 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  25. "Results from all Electorates". Evening Post. Vol. CXXXVI, no. 76. 27 September 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  26. "City Nominations". Evening Post. Vol. CXXXVI, no. 61. 9 September 1943. p. 9. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  27. "The General Election, 1938". National Library. 1939. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  28. The New Zealand Official Year-Book. Government Printer. 1936. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  29. "Declaration of Result of Poll for the Electoral District of Wellington Central". The Evening Post. Vol. CXII, no. 140. 10 December 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  30. The General Election, 1928. Government Printer. 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  31. "Declaration of Result of Poll for the Electoral District of Wellington Central". New Zealand Truth. No. 1200. 29 November 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  32. The General Election, 1925. Government Printer. 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  33. The New Zealand Official Year-Book. Government Printer. 1924. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  34. Hislop 1923, pp. 1–6.
  35. Hislop, J. (1921). The General Election, 1919. National Library. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  36. "A victory for Labour". The Evening Post. Vol. XCVI, no. 83. 4 October 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  37. The General Election, 1914. Government Printer. 1915. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  38. The General Election, 1914. Government Printer. 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  39. "The General Election, 1905". National Library. 1906. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 8 March 2014.

References
  • Hislop, J. (1923). The General Election, 1922. Government Printer. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  • 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.
  • Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
  • 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.
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