New Zealand general election, 1990

1990 general election

1987 ← members 27 October 1990 → 1993 members

All 97 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives 49 seats were needed for a majority   First party Second party Third party   Leader Jim Bolger Mike Moore Jim Anderton Party National Labour NewLabour Leader since 1986 1990 1989 Leader's seat King Country Christchurch North Sydenham Last election 40 seats, 44.0% 57 seats, 48.0% Not yet founded Seats won 67 29 1 Seat change 27 28 1 Popular vote 872,358 640,915 94,171 Percentage 47.82% 35.14% 5.16% Swing 3.82% 12.86% 5.16%

Prime Minister before election Mike Moore Labour Elected Prime Minister Jim Bolger National

The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office. The National Party, led by Jim Bolger, won a landslide victory and formed the new government.

Background

The Labour Party had taken office after defeating the National Party under Robert Muldoon in the 1984 election. David Lange became Prime Minister and Roger Douglas became Minister of Finance. The economic program outlined by Douglas was deeply unpopular with Labour's traditional supporters, however — deregulation, privatisation, and free trade, all opposed by the party's more left-wing members, were a key part of the so-called "Rogernomics" platform. This internal dissent was off-set somewhat by new social legislation and a strong stance against nuclear weapons.

Labour was re-elected in the 1987 election by a slightly reduced margin, and the internal disputes continued. Eventually Lange forced Douglas to resign, but the crisis had weakened Lange's position such that he resigned soon afterwards. He was replaced as Prime Minister by Geoffrey Palmer, but Palmer failed to revive Labour's falling popularity. Several months before the election, Palmer was replaced by Mike Moore. The National Party was performing strongly — its leader, Jim Bolger, spoke repeatedly of "the Decent Society", saying that the reforms were doing significant damage to the social fabric of the country. The government was also being challenged by the NewLabour Party, founded by renegade MP Jim Anderton.

The election

The date for the 1990 election was 27 October. 2,202,157 people were registered to vote, and 85.2% of these people turned out. The number of seats being contested was 97 — this was the same as in the previous election, which had the largest number of seats for any Parliament until that point.

Summary of results

The 1990 election eventually saw a victory for the National Party, then in opposition. National won nearly half (48%) of the vote and 67 (69%) of the seats, becoming the fourth National government. This was the highest number of seats the party had ever won, either in absolute terms or as a percentage. The governing Labour Party, by contrast, suffered its worst-ever electoral defeat since it first won power in the 1935 election, winning only 29 (30%) of the seats and 35% of the vote, and losing 27 seats. The new Green Party gained the third-highest number of votes, but won no seats. The NewLabour Party won a single seat, due to Jim Anderton retaining the Sydenham seat he originally won as a Labour candidate.

Detailed results

National results

Party	Candidates	Total votes	Percentage	Seats won
National Party	97	872,358	47.82%	67
Labour Party	97	640,915	35.14%	29
Green Party	71	124,915	6.85%	-
NewLabour Party	93	94,171	5.16%	1
Democratic Party	91	30,455	1.67%	-
Social Credit Party (Beetham revival)	68	17,897	0.98%	-
Mana Motuhake	4	10,869	0.60%	-
McGillicuddy Serious Party	59	9,918	0.54%	-
Christian Heritage Party	18	9,591	0.53%	-
Legalise Marijuana Party	2	611	0.03%	-
New Zealand Party	5	402	0.03%	-
Pencarrow Liberation Party	1	374	0.02%	-
Wall of Surf	1	281	0.02%	-
Communist League	9	210	0.01%	-
Blokes' Liberation Front	3	209	0.01%	-
People's Party	4	184	0.01%	-
New Zealand Representative	2	173	0.01%	-
Proportional Representation Party	1	160	0.01%	-
United Party	1	124	0.01%	-
Gordon Dinosaur Party	1	107	0.01%	-
Imperial British Conservative Party	1	53	0.00%	-
Economic Euthenics Party	1	37	0.00%	-
Economic Democracy Party	1	31	0.00%	-
Free Access Socialism	1	22	0.00%	-
Private Enterprise Party	1	17	0.00%	-
Dominion Workers	1	13	0.00%	-
Consensus Party	1	10	0.00%	-
Independents	39	8,291	0.45%	-
Total	677	1,824,092		97

Electorate results

Albany Held by Don McKinnon (National)	Don McKinnon (National)
	2nd: J Allen (Labour)
Ashburton Held by Jenny Shipley (National)	Jenny Shipley (National)
	2nd: Basil Moskovis (Labour)
Auckland Central Held by Richard Prebble (Labour)	Richard Prebble (Labour)
	2nd: K Hill (National)
Avon Held by Larry Sutherland (Labour)	Larry Sutherland (Labour)
	2nd: W Rush (National)
Awarua Held by Jeff Grant (National)	Jeff Grant (National)
	2nd: H A Russell (Labour)
Bay of Islands Held by John Carter (National)	John Carter (National)
	2nd: B R Dent (Labour)
Birkenhead Held by Jenny Kirk (Labour)	Ian Revell (National)
	2nd: Jenny Kirk (Labour)
Christchurch Central Held by Geoffrey Palmer (Labour)	Lianne Dalziel (Labour)
	2nd: R Gluer (National)
Christchurch North Held by Mike Moore (Labour)	Mike Moore (Labour)
	2nd: P Yarrell (National)
Clevedon Held by Warren Kyd (National)	Warren Kyd (National)
	2nd: A Stubbs-Batten (Labour)
Clutha Held by Robin Gray (National)	Robin Gray (National)
	2nd: J Buchanan (Labour)
Coromandel Held by Graeme Lee (National)	Graeme Lee (National)
	2nd: Margaret Hawkeswood (Labour)
Dunedin North Held by Stan Rodger (Labour)	Pete Hodgson (Labour)
	2nd: G Donoghue (National)
Dunedin West Held by Clive Matthewson (Labour)	Clive Matthewson (Labour)
	2nd: Ian McMeeking (National)
East Cape Held by Anne Collins (Labour)	Tony Ryall (National)
	2nd: Anne Collins (Labour)
East Coast Bays Held by Murray McCully (National)	Murray McCully (National)
	2nd: Gary Knapp (Democrats)
Eastern Hutt Held by Trevor Young (Labour)	Paul Swain (Labour)
	2nd: R F Thomas (National)
Eden Held by Richard Northey (Labour)	Christine Fletcher (National)
	2nd: Richard Northey (Labour)
Fendalton Held by Philip Burdon (National)	Philip Burdon (National)
	2nd: T Day (Labour)
Gisborne Held by Allan Wallbank (Labour)	Wayne Kimber (National)
	2nd: Allan Wallbank (Labour)
Glenfield Held by Judy Keall (Labour)	Peter Hilt (National)
	2nd: Judy Keall (Labour)
Hamilton East Held by Bill Dillon (Labour)	Tony Steel (National)
	2nd: Bill Dillon (Labour)
Hamilton West Held by Trevor Mallard (Labour)	Grant Thomas (National)
	2nd: Trevor Mallard (Labour)
Hastings Held by David Butcher (Labour)	Jeff Whitaker (National)
	2nd: David Butcher (Labour)
Hawkes Bay Held by Bill Sutton (Labour)	Michael Laws (National)
	2nd: Bill Sutton (Labour)
Heretaunga Held by Bill Jeffries (Labour)	Peter McCardle (National)
	2nd: Bill Jeffries (Labour)
Hobson Held by Ross Meurant (National)	Ross Meurant (National)
	2nd: H Henry (Labour)
Horowhenua Held by Annette King (Labour)	Hamish Hancock (National)
	2nd: Annette King (Labour)
Invercargill Held by Rob Munro (National)	Rob Munro (National)
	2nd: B G Rait (Labour)
Island Bay Held by Elizabeth Tennet (Labour)	Elizabeth Tennet (Labour)
	2nd: A Nolan (National)
Kaimai Held by Robert Anderson (National)	Robert Anderson (National)
	2nd: G L Dickson (Labour)
Kaipara Held by Lockwood Smith (National)	Lockwood Smith (National)
	2nd: W K Sellwood (Labour)
Kapiti Held by Margaret Shields (Labour)	Roger Sowry (National)
	2nd: Margaret Shields (Labour)
King Country Held by Jim Bolger (National)	Jim Bolger (National)
	2nd: C Gordon (Labour)
Lyttelton Held by Peter Simpson (Labour)	Gail McIntosh (National)
	2nd: Peter Simpson (Labour)
Manawatu Held by David Robinson (Labour)	Hamish McIntyre (National)
	2nd: David Robinson (Labour)
Mangere Held by David Lange (Labour)	David Lange (Labour)
	2nd: B Archer (National)
Manurewa Held by Roger Douglas (Labour)	George Hawkins (Labour)
	2nd: P Baker (National)
Maramarua Held by Bill Birch (National)	Bill Birch (National)
	2nd: Charles Chauvel (Labour)
Marlborough Held by Doug Kidd (National)	Doug Kidd (National)
	2nd: B Hutchinson (Labour)
Matamata Held by John Luxton (National)	John Luxton (National)
	2nd: W J Pepperell (Labour)
Miramar Held by Peter Neilson (Labour)	Graham Reeves (National)
	2nd: Peter Neilson (Labour)
Mt Albert Held by Helen Clark (Labour)	Helen Clark (Labour)
	2nd: L Bellshaw (National)
Napier Held by Geoff Braybrooke (Labour)	Geoff Braybrooke (Labour)
	2nd: C M Pritchard (National)
Nelson Held by Philip Woollaston (Labour)	John Blincoe (Labour)
	2nd: L Baigent (National)
New Lynn Held by Jonathan Hunt (Labour)	Jonathan Hunt (Labour)
	2nd: M A Bishop (National)
New Plymouth Held by Harry Duynhoven (Labour)	John Armstrong (National)
	2nd: Harry Duynhoven (Labour)
North Shore Held by George Gair (National)	Bruce Cliffe (National)
	2nd: G Ransom (Labour)
Ohariu Held by Peter Dunne (Labour)	Peter Dunne (Labour)
	2nd: G Mathew (National)
Onehunga Held by Fred Gerbic (Labour)	Grahame Thorne (National)
	2nd: Fred Gerbic (Labour)
Otago Held by Warren Cooper (National)	Warren Cooper (National)
	2nd: T Cooke (Labour)
Otara Held by Colin Moyle (Labour)	Trevor Rogers (National)
	2nd: P T Field (Labour)
Pahiatua Held by John Falloon (National)	John Falloon (National)
	2nd: M Martindale (Labour)
Pakuranga Held by Maurice Williamson (National)	Maurice Williamson (National)
	2nd: P C Grant (Labour)
Palmerston North Held by Trevor de Cleene (Labour)	Steve Maharey (Labour)
	2nd: P L Sherriff (National)
Panmure Held by Bob Tizard (Labour)	Judith Tizard (Labour)
	2nd: G Bartlett (National)
Papakura Held by Merv Wellington (National)	John Robertson (National)
	2nd: James Stubbs,(Labour)
Papatoetoe Held by Ross Robertson (Labour)	Ross Robertson (Labour)
	2nd: A W Brewster (National)
Pencarrow Held by Sonja Davies (Labour)	Sonja Davies (Labour)
	2nd: R Wallace (National)
Porirua Held by Graham Kelly (Labour)	Graham Kelly (Labour)
	2nd: P Faulkner (National)
Raglan Held by Simon Upton (National)	Simon Upton (National)
	2nd: O Scaletti-Longley (Labour)
Rangiora Held by Jim Gerard (National)	Jim Gerard (National)
	2nd: J A McLachlan (Labour)
Rangitikei Held by Denis Marshall (National)	Denis Marshall (National)
	2nd: P Barton (Labour)
Remuera Held by Doug Graham (National)	Doug Graham (National)
	2nd: C Harding (Labour)
Roskill Held by Phil Goff (Labour)	Gilbert Myles (National)
	2nd: Phil Goff (Labour)
Rotorua Held by Paul East (National)	Paul East (National)
	2nd: B Raitt (Labour)
Selwyn Held by Ruth Richardson (National)	Ruth Richardson (National)
	2nd: V Elley (Labour)
St Albans Held by David Caygill (Labour)	David Caygill (Labour)
	2nd: D Dumergue (National)
St Kilda Held by Michael Cullen (Labour)	Michael Cullen (Labour)
	2nd: B Alexander (National)
Sydenham Held by Jim Anderton (NewLabour)	Jim Anderton (NewLabour)
	2nd: L S Constable (Labour)
Tamaki Held by Robert Muldoon (National)	Robert Muldoon (National)
	2nd: M C Johnston (Labour)
Taranaki Held by Roger Maxwell (National)	Roger Maxwell (National)
	2nd: S Dalziel (Labour)
Tarawera Held by Ian McLean (National)	Max Bradford (National)
	2nd: M R Moore (Labour)
Tasman Held by Ken Shirley (Labour)	Nick Smith (National)
	2nd: Ken Shirley (Labour)
Tauranga Held by Winston Peters (National)	Winston Peters (National)
	2nd: W K Delaney (Labour)
Te Atatu Held by Michael Bassett (Labour)	Brian Neeson (National)
	2nd: Dan McCaffrey (Labour)
Timaru Held by Maurice McTigue (National)	Maurice McTigue (National)
	2nd: G J Clarke (Labour)
Titirangi Held by Ralph Maxwell (Labour)	Marie Hasler (National)
	2nd: Ralph Maxwell (Labour)
Tongariro Held by Noel Scott (Labour)	Ian Peters (National)
	2nd: Noel Scott (Labour)
Waikaremoana Held by Roger McClay (National)	Roger McClay (National)
	2nd: D Davies (Labour)
Waikato Held by Rob Storey (National)	Rob Storey (National)
	2nd: G Middleton (Labour)
Waipa Held by Katherine O'Regan (National)	Katherine O'Regan (National)
	2nd: M Apiata-Wade (Labour)
Wairarapa Held by Wyatt Creech (National)	Wyatt Creech (National)
	2nd: P Morgan (Labour)
Waitaki Held by Jim Sutton (Labour)	Alec Neill (National)
	2nd: Jim Sutton (Labour)
Waitotara Held by Venn Young (National)	Peter Gresham (National)
	2nd: D T O'Sullivan (Labour)
Wallace Held by Derek Angus (National)	Bill English (National)
	2nd: David Soper (Labour)
Wanganui Held by Russell Marshall (Labour)	Cam Campion (National)
	2nd: Jill Pettis (Labour)
Wellington Central Held by Fran Wilde (Labour)	Fran Wilde (Labour)
	2nd: Pauline Gardiner (National)
West Auckland Held by Jack Elder (Labour)	Jack Elder (Labour)
	2nd: L Wicks (National)
West Coast Held by Kerry Burke (Labour)	Margaret Moir (National)
	2nd: Kerry Burke (Labour)
Western Hutt Held by John Terris (Labour)	Joy McLauchlan (National)
	2nd: John Terris (Labour)
Whangarei Held by John Banks (National)	John Banks (National)
	2nd: E E Tait (Labour)
Yaldhurst Held by Margaret Austin (Labour)	Margaret Austin (Labour)
	2nd: J Connelly (National)
Eastern Maori Held by Peter Tapsell (Labour)	Peter Tapsell (Labour)
	2nd: W K Kaa (Mana Motuhake)
Northern Maori Held by Bruce Gregory (Labour)	Bruce Gregory (Labour)
	2nd: Matiu Rata (Mana Motuhake)
Southern Maori Held by Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan (Labour)	Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan (Labour)
	2nd: T R Stevens (Mana Motuhake)
Western Maori Held by Koro Wetere (Labour)	Koro Wetere (Labour)
	2nd: Eva Rickard (Mana Motuhake)

Summary of seat changes

• Electoral redistributions:
  • There was no redistribution of electoral boundaries between the 1987 and 1990 elections.
• Seats captured:
  • By National: Birkenhead, East Cape, Eden, Gisborne, Glenfield, Hamilton East, Hamilton West, Hastings, Hawkes Bay, Heretaunga, Horowhenua, Kapiti, Lyttelton, Manawatu, Miramar, New Plymouth, Onehunga, Otara, Roskill, Tasman, Te Atatu, Titirangi, Tongariro, Waitaki, Wanganui, West Coast and Western Hutt (27 seats) were captured from Labour.
• Seats transferred from departing MPs to new MPs:
  • The seats of North Shore, Papakura, Tarawera, Waitotara and Wallace, all held by departing National MPs, were won by new National candidates.
  • The seats of Christchurch Central, Dunedin North, Eastern Hutt, Manurewa, Nelson, Palmerston North and Panmure, all held by departing Labour MPs, were won by new Labour candidates.

References

• Vowles, Jack & Aimer, Peter (1993). Voters’ Vengeance: The 1990 Election in New Zealand and the fate of the Fourth Labour Government. Auckland: University Press. ISBN 186940078X.