New Zealand general election, 2005

New Zealand general election, 2005

2002 ← members 17 September 2005 (2005-09-17) members → 2008 members

All 120 seats (plus overhang) in the New Zealand House of Representatives 61 seats were needed for a majority   First party Second party Third party   Leader Helen Clark Don Brash Winston Peters Party Labour National NZ First Leader since 1993 2003 1993 Leader's seat Mount Albert (List) Tauranga Last election 52 seats, 41.26% 27 seats, 20.93% 13 seats, 10.38% Seats before 51 27 13 Seats won 50 48 7 Seat change 1 21 6 Popular vote 935,319 889,813 130,115 Percentage 41.10% 39.10% 5.72% Swing 0.16% 18.17% 4.66%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Rod Donald / Jeanette Fitzsimons Tariana Turia / Pita Sharples Peter Dunne Party Green Māori United Future Leader since 1995 / 1995 2004 / 2004 2000 Leader's seat (List) / (List) Te Tai Hauāuru / Tāmaki Makaurau Ohariu-Belmont Last election 9 seats, 7.00% – 8 seats, 6.69% Seats before 9 1 8 Seats won 6 4 3 Seat change 3 3 5 Popular vote 120,521 48,263 60,860 Percentage 5.30% 2.12% 2.67% Swing 1.70 2.12% 4.02%   Seventh party   Leader Rodney Hide Party ACT Leader since 2004 Leader's seat Epsom Last election 9 seats, 7.14% Seats before 9 Seats won 2 Seat change 7 Popular vote 34,469 Percentage 1.51% Swing 5.63%

Prime Minister before election Helen Clark Labour Elected Prime Minister Helen Clark Labour

The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the National Party of Dr Don Brash. With the exception of the newly formed Māori Party, which took four Māori seats from Labour, most of the other parties polled lower than in the previous election, losing votes and seats.

Brash deferred conceding defeat until 1 October, when National's election-night 49 seats fell to 48 after special votes were counted.

The election was a strong recovery for National which won 21 more seats than at the 2002 election where it suffered its worst result in its history. Despite its resurgence, National failed to displace Labour as the largest party in Parliament. National's gains apparently came mainly at the expense of smaller parties, while Labour won only two seats less than in 2002.

On 17 October, Clark announced a new coalition agreement that saw the return of her minority government coalition with the Progressive Party, with confidence and supply support from New Zealand First and from United Future. New Zealand First parliamentary leader Winston Peters and United Future parliamentary leader Peter Dunne became ministers of the Crown outside Cabinet, Peters as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dunne as Minister of Revenue. The Green Party which had supported Labour before the election received no cabinet post (see below), but gained several concessions from the coalition on matters such as energy and transport, and agreed to support the government on matters of confidence and supply.

Detailed results

Parliamentary parties

e • d  Summary of the 17 September 2005 New Zealand House of Representatives election results

party		votes	% of votes		seats
			%	change	electorate	list	total	change
	Labour	935,319	41.10	-0.16	31	19	50	-2
	National	889,813	39.10	+18.17	31	17	48	+21
	NZ First	130,115	5.72	-4.66	0	7	7	-6
	Green	120,521	5.30	-1.70	0	6	6	-3
	Māori	48,263	2.12	+2.12	4	0	4	+4
	United Future	60,860	2.67	-4.02	1	2	3	-5
	ACT	34,469	1.51	-5.63	1	1	2	-7
	Progressive	26,441	1.16	-0.54	1	0	1	-1
	other parties	29,828	1.31	-3.58	0	0	0	0
	total	2,275,629	100.00		69	52	121	+1
	informal votes	10,561
	disallowed special votes	17,815
	total votes cast	2,304,005
	turnout	80.92%

Non-parliamentary parties

e • d  Summary of MMP vote for minor
unrepresented registered parties.

Party		Votes	%	Change
	Destiny	14,210	0.62
	Legalise Cannabis	5748	0.25	-0.39
	Christian Heritage New Zealand	2821	0.12	-1.23
	Alliance	1641	0.07	-1.20
	Family Rights	1178	0.05
	Democrats for Social Credit	1079	0.05
	Libertarianz	946	0.04	-0.25[1]
	Direct Democracy	782	0.03
	99 MP Party	601	0.03
	One New Zealand	478	0.02	-0.07
	Republic of NZ	344	0.02
	Minor parties, total	29,828	1.31	-3.58

The election saw an 81% voter turnout.^[2]

The results of the election give a Gallagher index of disproportionality of 1.11.

Electorate results

Aoraki Held by Jim Sutton (Labour)	Jo Goodhew (National)
	2nd: Jim Sutton (Labour) 3rd: Kate Elsen (Green)
Auckland Central Held by Judith Tizard (Labour)	Judith Tizard (Labour)
	2nd: Pansy Wong (National) 3rd: Nandor Tanczos (Green)
Banks Peninsula Held by Ruth Dyson (Labour)	Ruth Dyson (Labour)
	2nd: David Carter (National) 3rd: Rod Donald (Green)
Bay of Plenty Held by Tony Ryall (National)	Tony Ryall (National)
	2nd: Pauline Scott (Labour) 3rd: Peter Brown (New Zealand First)
Christchurch Central Held by Tim Barnett	Tim Barnett (Labour)
	2nd: Nicky Wagner (National) 3rd: Natalie Cutler-Welsh (Green)
Christchurch East Held by Lianne Dalziel (Labour)	Lianne Dalziel (Labour)
	2nd: David Round (National) 3rd: Mary McCammon (Green)
Clevedon Held by Judith Collins (National)	Judith Collins (National)
	2nd: Dave Hereora (Labour) 3rd: Brent Catchpole (New Zealand First)
Clutha-Southland Held by Bill English (National)	Bill English (National)
	2nd: David Talbot (Labour) 3rd: Dave Mackie (New Zealand First)
Coromandel Sandra Goudie (National)	Sandra Goudie (National)
	2nd: Max Purnell (Labour) 3rd: Jeanette Fitzsimons (Green)
Dunedin North Held by Pete Hodgson (Labour)	Pete Hodgson (Labour)
	2nd: Katherine Rich (National) 3rd: Philippa Jamieson (Green)
Dunedin South Held by David Benson-Pope (Labour)	David Benson-Pope (Labour)
	2nd: Conway Powell (National) 3rd: Peter Thomlinson (Green)
East Coast Held by Janet Mackey (Labour)	Anne Tolley (National)
	2nd: Moana Mackey (Labour) 3rd: Judy Turner (United Future)
East Coast Bays Held by Murray McCully (National)	Murray McCully (National)
	2nd: Hamish McCracken (Labour) 3rd: Paul Adams (Independent)
Epsom Held by Richard Worth (National)	Rodney Hide (ACT)
	2nd: Richard Worth (National) 3rd: Stuart Nash (Labour)
Hamilton East Dianne Yates (Labour)	David Bennett (National)
	2nd: Dianne Yates (Labour) 3rd: Doug Woolerton (New Zealand First)
Hamilton West Held by Martin Gallagher (Labour)	Martin Gallagher (Labour)
	2nd: Tim Macindoe (National) 3rd: Bill Gudgeon (New Zealand First)
Helensville Held by John Key (National)	John Key (National)
	2nd: Judy Lawley (Labour) 3rd: Dail Jones (New Zealand First)
Hutt South Held by Trevor Mallard (Labour)	Trevor Mallard (Labour)
	2nd: Rosemarie Thomas (National) 3rd: Murray Smith (United Future)
Ilam Held by Gerry Brownlee (National)	Gerry Brownlee (National)
	2nd: Julian Blanchard (Labour) 3rd: Louis Griffiths (Green)
Invercargill Held by Mark Peck (Labour)	Eric Roy (National)
	2nd: Wayne Harpur (Labour) 3rd: Craig Carson (Green)
Kaikoura Held by Lynda Scott (National)	Colin King (National)
	2nd: Brendon Burns (Labour) 3rd: Steffan Browning (Green)
Mana Held by Winnie Laban (Labour)	Winnie Laban (Labour)
	2nd: Chris Finlayson (National) 3rd: Nicola Harvey (Green)
Mangere Held by Taito Phillip Field (Labour)	Taito Phillip Field (Labour)
	2nd: Clem Simich (National) 3rd: Edward Saafi (Destiny)
Manukau East Held by Ross Robertson (Labour)	Ross Robertson (Labour)
	2nd: Ken Yee (National) 3rd: Richard Lewis (Destiny)
Manurewa Held by George Hawkins (Labour)	George Hawkins (Labour)
	2nd: Fepulea'i Ulua'ipou-O-Malo Aiono (National) 3rd: Lindy Palmer (New Zealand First)
Maungakiekie Held by Mark Gosche (Labour)	Mark Gosche (Labour)
	2nd: Paul Goldsmith (National) 3rd: Joe Williams (New Zealand First)
Mt Albert Held by Helen Clark (Labour)	Helen Clark (Labour)
	2nd: Ravi Musuku (National) 3rd: Jon Carapiet (Green)
Mt Roskill Held by Phil Goff (Labour)	Phil Goff (Labour)
	2nd: Jackie Blue (National) 3rd: Kenneth Wang (ACT)
Napier Held by Russell Fairbrother (Labour)	Chris Tremain (National)
	2nd: Russell Fairbrother (Labour) 3rd: Terry Creighton (Green)
Nelson Held by Nick Smith (National)	Nick Smith (National)
	2nd: Jen McCutcheon (Labour) 3rd: Mike Ward (Green)
New Lynn Held by David Cunliffe (Labour)	David Cunliffe (Labour)
	2nd: Mita Harris (National) 3rd: Richard Green (Green)
New Plymouth Held by Harry Duynhoven (Labour)	Harry Duynhoven (Labour)
	2nd: Moira Irving (National) 3rd: Sarah Brown (Green)
North Shore Held by Wayne Mapp (National)	Wayne Mapp (National)
	2nd: Phil Twyford (Labour) 3rd: Ross Tizard (United Future)
Northcote Held by Ann Hartley (Labour)	Jonathan Coleman (National)
	2nd: Ann Hartley (Labour) 3rd: Paul Manning (New Zealand First)
Northland Held by John Carter (National)	John Carter (National)
	2nd: Shane Jones (Labour) 3rd: Sue Bradford (Green)
Ohariu-Belmont Held by Peter Dunne (United Future)	Peter Dunne (United Future)
	2nd: Charles Chauvel (Labour) 3rd: Katrina Shanks (National)
Otago Held by David Parker (Labour)	Jacqui Dean (National)
	2nd: David Parker (Labour) 3rd: Jane Pearce (Green)
Otaki Held by Darren Hughes (Labour)	Darren Hughes (Labour)
	2nd: Nathan Guy (National) 3rd: Chris Perry (New Zealand First)
Pakuranga Held by Maurice Williamson (National)	Maurice Williamson (National)
	2nd: Michael Wood (Labour) 3rd: Steve Baron (Independent)
Palmerston North Held by Steve Maharey (Labour)	Steve Maharey (Labour)
	2nd: Malcolm Plimmer (National) 3rd: Lawrence O'Halloran (Green)
Piako Held by Lindsay Tisch (National)	Lindsay Tisch (National)
	2nd: Sue Moroney (Labour) 3rd: Barbara Stewart (New Zealand First)
Port Waikato Held by Paul Hutchison (National)	Paul Hutchison (National)
	2nd: Louisa Wall (Labour) 3rd: Bob Daw (New Zealand First)
Rakaia Held by Brian Connell (National)	Brian Connell (National)
	2nd: Tony Milne (Labour) 3rd: Mojo Mathers (Green)
Rangitikei Held by Simon Power (National)	Simon Power (National)
	2nd: Marilyn Brown (Labour) 3rd: Murray Strawbridge (United Future)
Rimutaka Held by Paul Swain (Labour)	Paul Swain (Labour)
	2nd: Mike Leddy (National) 3rd: Bernard McClelland (United Future)
Rodney Held by Lockwood Smith (National)	Lockwood Smith (National)
	2nd: Tony Dunlop (Labour) 3rd: Craig McNair (New Zealand First)
Rongotai Held by Annette King (Labour)	Annette King (Labour)
	2nd: Nicola Young (National) 3rd: Luci Highfield (Green)
Rotorua Held by Stephanie Chadwick (Labour)	Stephanie Chadwick (Labour)
	2nd: Gil Stehbens (National) 3rd: Russell Judd (United Future)
Tamaki Held by Clem Simich (National)	Allan Peachey (National)
	2nd: Leila Boyle (Labour) 3rd: Ken Shirley (ACT)
Taranaki-King Country Held by Shane Ardern (National)	Shane Ardern (National)
	2nd: Maryan Street (Labour) 3rd: Anne Copeland (ACT)
Taupo Held by Mark Burton (Labour)	Mark Burton (Labour)
	2nd: Weston Kirton (National) 3rd: Kirston Campbell (New Zealand First)
Tauranga Held by Winston Peters (New Zealand First)	Bob Clarkson (National)
	2nd: Winston Peters (New Zealand First) 3rd: Sally Barrett (Labour)
Te Atatu Held by Chris Carter (Labour)	Chris Carter (Labour)
	2nd: Tau Henare (National) 3rd: Moetu Davis (New Zealand First)
Tukituki Held by Rick Barker (Labour)	Craig Foss (National)
	2nd: Rick Barker (Labour) 3rd: Liz Earth (Green)
Waimakariri Held by Clayton Cosgrove (Labour)	Clayton Cosgrove (Labour)
	2nd: Kate Wilkinson (National) 3rd: Ron Mark (New Zealand First)
Wairarapa Held by Georgina Beyer (Labour)	John Hayes (National)
	2nd: Denise MacKenzie (Labour) 3rd: Edwin Perry (New Zealand First)
Waitakere Held by Lynne Pillay (Labour)	Lynne Pillay (Labour)
	2nd: Paula Bennett (National) 3rd: David Clendon (Green)
Wellington Central Held by Marian Hobbs (Labour)	Marian Hobbs (Labour)
	2nd: Mark Blumsky (National) 3rd: Sue Kedgley (Green)
West Coast-Tasman Held by Damien O'Connor (Labour)	Damien O'Connor (Labour)
	2nd: Chris Auchinvole (National) 3rd: Richard Davies (Green)
Whanganui Held by Jill Pettis (Labour)	Chester Borrows (National)
	2nd: Jill Pettis (Labour) 3rd: John Milnes (Green)
Whangarei Held by Phil Heatley (National)	Phil Heatley (National)
	2nd: Paul Chalmers (Labour) 3rd: Brian Donnelly (New Zealand First)
Wigram Held by Jim Anderton (Progressive)	Jim Anderton (Progressive)
	2nd: Alison Lomax (National) 3rd: Mike Mora (Labour)
Ikaroa-Rawhiti Held by Parekura Horomia (Labour)	Parekura Horomia (Labour)
	2nd: Atareta Poananga (Maori) 3rd: Tauha Te Kani (Destiny)
Tainui Held by Nanaia Mahuta (Labour)	Nanaia Mahuta (Labour)
	2nd: Angeline Greensill (Maori) 3rd: Hayden Solomon (Destiny)
Tamaki Makaurau Held by John Tamihere (Labour)	Pita Sharples (Maori)
	2nd: John Tamihere (Labour) 3rd: Tauwehe Hemahema-Tamati (Destiny)
Te Tai Hauauru Held by Tariana Turia (Maori)/font>	Tariana Turia (Maori)
	2nd: Errol Mason (Labour) 3rd: Hemi Te Wano (Destiny)
Te Tai Tokerau Held by Dover Samuels (Labour)	Hone Harawira (Maori)
	2nd: Dover Samuels (Labour) 3rd: Mere Mangu (Independent)
Te Tai Tonga Held by Mahara Okeroa (Labour)	Mahara Okeroa (Labour)
	2nd: Monte Ohia (Maori) 3rd: Metiria Turei (Green)
Waiariki Held by Mita Ririnui (Labour)	Te Ururoa Flavell (Maori)
	2nd: Mita Ririnui (Labour) 3rd: Hawea Vercoe (Destiny)

List results

Labour	Michael Cullen Margaret Wilson Dover Samuels Jim Sutton2 Mita Ririnui Rick Barker Jill Pettis Ashraf Choudhary Shane Jones Dianne Yates2 Ann Hartley2 Georgina Beyer2 Maryan Street David Parker Russell Fairbrother Dave Hereora Moana Mackey Sue Moroney Darien Fenton
	Unsuccessful: Charles Chauvel1, Lesley Soper1, Louisa Wall1, Su'a William Sio1, Brendon Burns, Hamish McCracken, Denise MacKenzie, Max Purnell, Thomas Harpur, Leila Boyle, Dinesh Tailor, Phil Twyford, Jennifer McCutcheon, Chris Yoo, Michael Wood, Linda Hudson, Stuart Nash, Tony Milne, David Talbot, Marilyn Brown, Anjum Rahman, Eamon Daly, Judy Lawley, Michael Mora, Erin Ebborn-Gillespie, Ailian Su, Ghazala Anwar, Paul Gibson, Kelly-Ann Harvey, Camille Nakhid, Ola Kamel, Andrea Bather
National	Don Brash2 David Carter Katherine Rich Tim Groser Richard Worth Clem Simich Georgina Te Heuheu Pansy Wong Chris Finlayson Nicky Wagner Tau Henare Chris Auchinvole Mark Blumsky Kate Wilkinson Nathan Guy Jackie Blue Paula Bennett
	Unsuccessful: Katrina Shanks1, Fepulea'i Aiono, Ravi Musuku, Moira Irving, Mita Harris, Michael Leddy, Conway Powell, David Round, Gilbert Stehbens, Kenneth Yee, Paul Goldsmith, Malcolm Plimmer, Nicola Young, Tim Macindoe, Allison Lomax, Weston Kirton, Rosemarie Thomas
New Zealand First	Winston Peters Peter Brown Brian Donnelly2 Ron Mark Doug Woolerton Barbara Stewart Pita Paraone
	Unsuccessful: Susan Baragwanath, Jim Peters, Dail Jones1, Craig McNair, Edwin Perry, Bill Gudgeon, Brent Catchpole, Joe Williams, John Foote, Fletcher Tabuteau, Alan Heward, Kristin Campbell Smith, Bryan Lundy, David Fowler, Brendan Stewart, Brett Webster, Bob Daw, Murray Strawbridge, Moetu Davis, Toa Greening, David Mackie, Anne Martin, Julian Batchelor, Chis Perry, Lindy Palmer, Brian Roswell, Matua Glen, James Mist, Howard Levarko, Paul Manning, Timothy Manu, Kevin Gardener, Graham Odering
Greens	Jeanette Fitzsimons Rod Donald2 Sue Bradford Sue Kedgley Keith Locke Metiria Turei
	Unsuccessful: Nandor Tanczos12, Mike Ward, Catherine Delahunty, Russel Norman1, Steffan Browning, David Clendon, Lucinda Highfield, Jonathan Carapiet, Roland Sapsford, Mojo Mathers, Mikaere Curtis, Paul Bruce, Jeanette Elley, Muamua Strickson-Pua, Richard Davies, Lois Griffiths, Natalie Cutler-Welsh, Jane Pearce, Lawrence O'Halloran, Richard Green, Claire Bleakley, Irene Bentley, Craig Carson, Nicola Harvey, Moea Armstrong, Steve Bayliss, Laura Beck, Sarah Brown, Terence Creighton, John Davis, Katherine Dewar, James Diack, Ruth Earth, Kathryn Elsen, Graham Evans, Nicholas Fisher, Robert Guyton, Daniel Howard, Philippa Jamieson, Stephen Lee, Alan Liefting, Mary McCammon, John Milnes, Michael Morris, Noel Peterson, Paul Qualtrough, Jacob Rawls, Raewyn Saville, Ian Stephens, Richard Suggate, Peter Thomlinson
Maori	Unsuccessful: Atareta Poananga, Simon Wi Rutene, Glenis Philip-Barbara, Robert Consedine, Pakake Winiata, Te Whiti Love, Angeline Greensill, William Maea, Monte Ohia, Te Orohi Paul, Bronwyn Yates, Charles Joe, Teremoananuiakiwa Tahere, Malcolm Peri, Anthony Ruakere, Ratapu Te Awa, Brett Cowan, Josephine Peita, Anne Fitzsimon, Abraham Hepi, Ngahiwi Tomoana, Tureiti Moxon, Aroha Reriti-Crofts, John Harré, Rangi McLean, Tell Kuka, Bill Puru, Mere Rawiri-Tau, Richard Orzecki, Maraea Ropata, Robert Hosking, Daryl Gregory, Rangi Tawhiao, Andre Meihana, Solomon Matthews, Adell Dick, Georgina Haremate-Crawford, Raewyn Harrison, Cecilia Hotene, Alice Hudson, Reimana Johnson, Rahuia Kapa, David King, Aaron Makutu, Kelvin Martin, Merehora Taurua, Frances Waaka, Henrietta Walker
United Future	Judy Turner Gordon Copeland
	Unsuccessful: Marc Alexander, Larry Baldock, Murray Smith, Paul Check, Janet Tuck, Bernie Ogilvy, Graeme Reeves, Russell Judd, Hannah Baral, Joy Lietze, Neville Wilson, Richard Barter, Stephen Taylor, Ian McInnes, Ross Tizard, Fiona McKenzie, Andrew Barr, John Walker, Ram Parkash, Ralph Kennard, Jayati Prasad, Vanessa Roberts, Gerald Telford, Robin Loomes, Robyn Jackson, Anthony Gordon, Gregory Graydon, Martyn Seddon, Bernard McClelland, Beth Stone, Robin Westley, Rosemary Drake, Gordon Hinton, Michael Satur, Diane Brown, Steven Dromgool, Andrea Deeth, Mark Peters, Mary Moffat, Dennis Wells, Milton Osborne, Garry Pedersen, William Pickering, Adam Archer, Neil Linscott, Barry Hayes, Janita Stuart, Dianne Wilson, James Rudd, Peter Mountain, Stuart Robertson, John van Buren, Jeffrey Leigh, Matthew Collier
ACT	Heather Roy
	Unsuccessful: Muriel Newman, Stephen Franks, Graham Scott, Ken Shirley, Kenneth Wang, Gerry Eckhoff, Lindsay Mitchell, Bronwyn Jacobsen, Simon Ewing-Jarvie, Jo Giles, Willie Martin, David Olsen, Hamish Stevens, Andrew Jollands, Hardev Singh Brar, Lech Beltowski, Ian Beker, Christopher Brown, Kevin Gill, John Waugh, Dianne Dawson, Kevin Murray, Stephen Langford-Tebby, Gavin Middleton, John Fraser, Frances Denz, Elizabeth Barkla, Nigel Chetty, Scott Clune, Michael Collins, Tetauru Emile, Andrew Falloon, Michael Heine, Kerry O'Connor, David Seymour, Helen Simpson, Philip White, Alan Wilden, Andrew Stone, Barbara Steinijans, John Riddell, Carl Peterson, Andre Peters, Julie Pepper, Thomas McClelland, Alexander Mann, Michelle Lorenz, Nigel Kearney, Nicholas Kearney, Mark Davies, Stephen Cox, Raymond Bassett, Brian Davidson, Rebekah Holdaway, Shirley Marshall, Patrick O'Sullivan, Garry Mallett
Progressive	Unsuccessful: Matt Robson, Grant Gillon, Megan Woods, John Wright, Sione Fonua, Vivienne Shepherd, Ngov Ly, Fatima Ashrafi, Barry Wilson, Fale Leleisiuao, Russell Franklin, Paula Gillon, Philip Clearwater, Trevor Barnard, Raghbir Singh, Brenda Hill, Fiona Beazley, Russell Caldwell, David Reeks, John Maurice, Seyed Kazemi Yazdi, Heka Heker, Veronique Stewart-Ward, Zemin Zhang, Julian Aaron, Sukerna Amirapu, Annette Anderson, Sukhdev Bains, Peter Banks, James Boyack, Ian Donald, Lewis Holland, Karandeep Lall, Jacqueline McAlpine, Claire Main, Philippa Main, James Palmer, Max Panirau, David Parkyn, Elizabeth Patchett, Talatala Po'e, Pavitra Roy, Elspeth Sandys, Anthony Sharrock, Barry Silcock, Karen Silcock, David Somerset, Petronella Townsend, Martin Vaughan, Jennifer Wilson
Destiny	Unsuccessful: Richard Lewis, David Jesze, Elaine Herbert, Hayden Solomon, Nigel Heslop, Etuate Saafi, Anita Breach, Charles Te Kowhai, David Knight, Hawea Vercoe, Neils Jensen, Sophie Hemahema-Tamati, Rodney Gabb, James Te Wano, Stephen Sinnott, Frances Williamson, Kerin Roberts, Peter Johnston, John Kotoisuva, Karen Penney, Colin Ranby, Talamasene Leiasamaivao, Paul Hubble, Roberta Maxwell, Tony Harrison, David Daglish, Jason Thomson, Maru Samuel, Stephen Brown, William Sadler, Patrick Morton, Ned So'e, David Isaachsen, Mason Lee, Stanley Green, Patrick Komene, Anthony Ford, Maureen Vincent, Albert Wipani, Brian Ane, Tauha Te Kani, Douglas Keven
Legalise Cannabis	Unsuccessful: Michael Appleby, Michael Britnell, Judy Daniels, Paula Lambert, Irinka Britnell, Kevin O'Connell, Paul McMullan, Steven Wilkinson, Judy Matangi, Jason Baker-Sherman, Peter Green, Neville Yates, Phillip Pophristoff
Christian Heritage	Unsuccessful: Ewen McQueen, Derek Blight, Nicholas Barber, Betty Jenkins, Mark Jones, Joy Jones
Alliance	Unsuccessful: Jill Ovens, Paul Piesse, Andrew McKenzie, Julie Fairey, Kane O'Connell, Leonard Richards, James R. Flynn, Victor Billot, Margaret Jeune, Robert van Ruyssevelt, Thomas Dowie, Christopher Ford, Quentin Findlay, Kelly Buchanan, Joseph Hendren, Gail Marmont, Alexander Protheroe, Gregory Kleis, Sandra Ethell, Colin Pounder, Robert Harrison, Peta Knibb, Marvin Hubbard, Shirley Haslemore, Norman MacRitchie, Eric Gamble, Lynda Boyd, Jocelyn Brooks, Nicholas Corlett, Nicolas Scullin
Family Rights Protection	Unsuccessful: Tafe Williams, Tapu Po-Wihongi, Christine Reid, Lale Ene-Ulugia, John Ulberg, Anne Kerisome Zekaria Strickland, Siniva Papali'i, Amelia Fepulea'i, Tangata Greig, Te Paeru Browne-Knowles, Papali'i Malietoa, Edward Ulberg, Etevise Fuiava, Souvenir Sanerivi, Manogitulua Livapulu-Head, Kearlene Ulberg, Christie Greig, Rafaele Vaifale
Democrats for Social Credit	Unsuccessful: Stephnie de Ruyter, John Pemberton, David Wilson, Richard Prosser, John Steemson, Katherine Ransom, John Kilbride, Graham Atkin, Heather Smith, David Tranter, Edgar Goodhue, Malcolm Murchie, Ross Weddell, David Espin, Ross Hayward, Bruce Stirling, Karl Hewlett, Ronald England, Kelly Pemberton, Robert Warren, David Wood, Mary Weddell, Allen Cookson, Barry Pulford, Hessel van Wieren, Alida Steemson, Edward Fox, Coralie Leyland, John Rawson
Libertarianz	Unsuccessful: Bernard Darnton, Julian Pistorius, Timothy Wikiriwhi, Susan Ryder, Peter Cresswell, Colin Cross, Helen Hughes, Russell Watkins, Peter Linton, Michael Webber, Robin Thomsen, Philip Howison, Michael Murphy, Faustina White, Andrew Bates, Richard Goode, Luke Howison, Christopher Robertson, Peter Osborne, Barry Cole, Donald Rowberry, Willem Verhoeven, Elliot Smith, Nikolas Haden, Terence Verhoeven, Keith Patterson, Kenneth Riddle, Robert Palmer
Direct Democracy	Unsuccessful: Kelvyn Alp, Paul Teio, Dilip Rupa, Patrick Fahy, Michael Francis-Roberson, Simon Guy, Gary Burch, Kevin Smith, Kevin Moore, Kyle Chapman, Rex Newey, Gregory Trichon, Alona Covich, Eugene Opai, Seira Perese, Tin Yau Chan, Helen Koster, Craig Stratton, Alastair Anderson, Anton Foljambe, Robert T Atack, Leanne Martinovich, Grant Burch, Howard Ponga, Edward Sullivan, Colin Punter, Mel Whaanga, Jason Anderson, Jason Orme, Barry Scott, Scott Burch, Craig Guy
99MP	Unsuccessful: Margaret Robertson, Ramasmy Ramanathan
One NZ	Unsuccessful: Ian Brougham, Richard Fisher, James White, John Porter, Janet Walters, Lanya Murray
Republic of NZ	Unsuccessful: Kerry James, Wayne Hawkins, Debra Potroz, Jack Gielen, Steven Hart, Gilbert Parker

Notes

1. These party list members later entered parliament in the term as other list MPs elected resigned from parliament.
2. These party list members later resigned during the parliamentary term.

Changes during parliamentary term

New Zealand general election, 2005 - changes during the term parliamentary term

Party		New MP	Term started	Seat	Previous MP
	Green	Nándor Tánczos	02005-11-06 6 November 2005	List	Rod Donald1
	Labour	Charles Chauvel	02006-08-01 1 August 2006	List	Jim Sutton
	National	Katrina Shanks	02007-02-07 7 February 2007	List	Don Brash
	Labour	Lesley Soper	02007-02-15 15 February 2007	List	Georgina Beyer
	NZ First	Dail Jones	02008-02-15 15 February 2008	List	Brian Donnelly2
	Labour	Louisa Wall	02008-03-04 4 March 2008	List	Ann Hartley
	Labour	Su'a William Sio	02008-03-29 29 March 2008	List	Dianne Yates
	Green	Russel Norman	02008-06-26 26 June 2008	List	Nándor Tánczos
	National	(vacant)	02008-08-31 31 August 2008	Rakaia	Brian Connell3
1 Rod Donald died before being sworn in as MP. 2 Brian Donnelly was appointed as New Zealand's High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. 3 Brian Connell retired from Parliament effective August 31, 2008, leaving his seat of Rakaia vacant.
Taito Phillip Field, Labour MP for Mangere, quit the Labour party after being threatened with expulsion on 16 February 2007. He continued to serve as an MP, and formed the New Zealand Pacific Party in January 2008. Gordon Copeland, a United Future list MP, left the party to become an independent MP in May 2007, and contested the 2008 election as a candidate for The Kiwi Party.

Party vote by electorate

Further information: List of electorates in the New Zealand general election, 2005, by party vote

Analysis of results

Going into the election, Labour had assurances of support from the Greens (six seats in 2005, down three from 2002) and from the Progressives (one seat, down one). This three-party bloc won 57 seats, leaving Clark four seats short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 121-seat Parliament (decreased from the expected 122 because the final results gave the Māori Party only one overhang seat, after it appeared to win two overhang seats on election night). On 5 October the Māori Party began a series of hui to decide whom to support. That same day reports emerged that a meeting between Helen Clark and Māori co-leader Tariana Turia on 3 October had already ruled out a formal coalition between Labour and the Māori Party. Māori Party representatives also held discussions with National representatives, but most New Zealanders thought the Māori Party more likely to give confidence-supply support to a Labour-dominated government because its supporters apparently heavily backed Labour in the party vote.

Had Turia and her co-leader Pita Sharples opted to join a Labour-Progressive-Green coalition, Clark would have had sufficient support to govern with support from a grouping of four parties (Labour, Green, Māori and Progressive). Without the Māori Party, Labour needed the support of New Zealand First (seven seats, down six) and United Future (three seats, down five) to form a government. New Zealand First said it would support (or at least abstain from opposing in confidence-motions) the party with the most seats. Clark sought from New Zealand First a positive commitment rather than abstention. United Future, which had supported the previous Labour-Progressive minority government in confidence and supply, said it would talk first to the party with the most seats about support or coalition. Both New Zealand First and United Future said they would not support a Labour-led coalition which included Greens in Cabinet posts. However, United Future indicated it could support a government where the Greens gave supply-and-confidence votes.^[3]

Brash had only one possible scenario to become Prime Minister: a centre-right coalition with United Future and ACT (two seats, down seven). Given the election results, however, such a coalition would have required the confidence-and-supply votes of both New Zealand First and the Māori Party. This appeared highly unlikely on several counts. New Zealand First's involvement in such a coalition would have run counter to Peters' promise to deal with the biggest party, and Turia and Sharples would have had difficulty in justifying supporting National after their supporters' overwhelming support for Labour in the party vote. Turia and Sharples probably remembered the severe mauling New Zealand First suffered in the 1999 election. (Many of its supporters in 1996 believed they had voted to get rid of National, only to have Peters go into coalition with National; New Zealand First has never really recovered.) Even without this to consider, National had indicated it would abolish the Maori seats if it won power.

The new government as eventually formed consisted of Labour and Progressive in coalition, while New Zealand First and United Future entered agreements of support on confidence and supply motions. In an unprecedented move, Peters and Dunne became Foreign Affairs Minister and Revenue Minister, respectively, but remained outside cabinet and had no obligatory cabinet collective responsibility on votes outside their respective portfolios.

Possible government setups

Background

Election billboards advertise the parties and candidates standing nationwide and in each electorate

The governing Labour Party retained office at 2002 election. However, its junior coalition partner, the Alliance, lost most of its support after internal conflict and disagreement and failed to win parliamentary representation. Labour formed a coalition with the new Progressive Coalition, formed by former Alliance leader Jim Anderton. The Labour-Progressive coalition then obtained an agreement of support ("confidence and supply") from United Future, enabling it to form a stable minority government. The National Party, Labour's main opponents, suffered a major defeat, winning only 21% of the vote (22.5% of the seats).

The collapse of National's vote led ultimately to the replacement of its Parliamentary party leader Bill English with parliamentary newcomer Don Brash on 28 October 2003. Brash began an aggressive campaign against the Labour-dominated government. A major boost to this campaign came with his "Orewa speech" (27 January 2004), in which he attacked the Labour-dominated government for giving "special treatment" to the Māori population, particularly over the foreshore and seabed controversy. This resulted in a surge of support for the National Party, although most polls indicated that this subsequently subsided. National also announced it would not stand candidates in the Māori seats, with some smaller parties following suit.

The foreshore-and-seabed controversy also resulted in the establishment of the Māori Party in July 2004. The Māori Party hoped to break Labour's traditional (and then current) dominance in the Māori seats, just as New Zealand First had done in the 1996 election.

A large number of so-called "minor" parties also contested the election. These included Destiny New Zealand (the political branch of the Destiny Church) and the Direct Democracy Party.

Polls

Poll results for all political parties that exceeded the 5% MMP threshold between the 2005 and 2008 elections.

Main article: Opinion polling for the New Zealand general election, 2005

A series of opinion polls published in June 2005 indicated that the National Party had moved ahead of Labour for the first time since June 2004. Commentators speculated^{[citation needed]} that a prominent billboard campaign may have contributed to this. Some said^{[citation needed]} the National Party had peaked too early. The polls released throughout July showed once more an upward trend for Labour, with Labour polling about 6% above National. The release by the National Party of a series of tax-reform proposals in August 2005 appeared to correlate with an increase in its ratings in the polls.

Direct comparisons between the following polls have no statistical validity:

poll	date	Labour	National	NZ First	Greens
One News Colmar Brunton	29 August	43%	40%	5%	7%
3 News TNS	1 September	39%	41%	6%	6%
Herald DigiPoll	2 September	43.4%	39.1%	6.6%	5%
Fairfax NZ/ACNeilsen	3 September	41%	44%	<5%	5%
One News Colmar Brunton	4 September	38%	46%	4.6%	6%
3 News TNS	7 September	45%	36%	5%	7%
Herald Digipoll	8 September	40.6%	40.1%	7.1%	5.6%
Herald Digipoll	11 September	42.1%	38.5%	5%	6%
ACNielsen-Sunday Star-Times	11 September	37%	44%	5%	6%
One News Colmar Brunton	11 September	39%	41%	6%	6%
Fairfax ACNielsen	14 September	37%	43%	7%	6%
3 News TNS	15 September	40.5%	38.7%	6.8%	6.9%
TVNZ Colmar Brunton	15 September	38%	41%	5.5%	5.1%
Herald Digipoll	16 September	44.6%	37.4%	4.5%	4.6 %

No single political event can explain the significant differences between most of these polls over the period between them. They show either volatility in the electorate and/or flaws in the methods of polling. In the later polls, the issue of National's knowledge of a series of pamphlets (distributed by members of the Exclusive Brethren and attacking the Green and Labour parties) appeared not to have reduced National Party support.

Candidates

For lists of candidates in the 2005 election see:

• Candidates grouped by electorate
• Candidates grouped by party
• Party lists

Major policy platforms

Labour Party

The Labour Party platform^[4] included:

• student loans: writing off interest if the recipient stays in New Zealand
• health: a pledge of extra public-hospital operations
• Treaty of Waitangi: accepting no lodgements for Treaty-claims after 1 September 2008
• increasing rates-rebates
• a "KiwiSaver" program, aimed at getting first homeowners into their own homes
• sponsoring 5,000 new apprenticeships
• increasing community police-force numbers by 250.
• a "Working for Families" tax-relief/benefit programme aimed at lower to middle-income families

National Party

The National Party campaigned on the platform of (National Party Press Release):

• taxation: lowering income-tax rates
• removing references to the Treaty of Waitangi from existing legislation; and resolving all treaty claims amicably by 2010
• by 1 April 2006, make student-loan repayments and $5000 of pre-school childcare costs recoupable to main stream New-Zealanders
• "reworking" the New Zealand Resource Management Act to make development easier
• "removing excessive bureaucracy" in the education system, in particular by overhauling the NCEA, and by re-introducing "bulk funding" of schools
• abolishing early parole for violent criminals. (As of 2005 most prisoners became eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentence)
• a return to "market rents" for state-housing tenants, including a system of paying housing-subsidies (for the poorest tenants) directly to private landlords
• increase Nationwide Maths and English standards
• part public/private ownership of the public health system
• welfare Reform - reduce the waste of having 300,000 working age New Zealand adults on benefits and to ensure all of those on benefits really need the help
• a "work-for-the-dole" scheme
• abolishing the Maori electorates

Voting

Postal voting for New Zealanders abroad began on 31 August. Ballot voting took place on Saturday 17 September, from 9am to 7pm. The Chief Electoral Office released a provisional result at 12.05am on 18 September.

Party funding

New Zealand operates on a system whereby the Electoral Commission allocates funding for advertising on television and on radio. Parties must use their own money for all other forms of advertising, but may not use any of their own money for television or radio advertising.

Party	Funding
Labour	$1,100,000
National	$900,000
ACT	$200,000
Greens	$200,000
NZ First	$200,000
United Future	$200,000
Māori Party	$125,000
Progressives	$75,000
Alliance	$20,000
Christian Heritage NZ	$20,000
Destiny NZ	$20,000
Libertarianz	$20,000
99 MP Party*	$10,000
Beneficiaries Party*	$10,000
Democrats	$10,000
National Front*	$10,000
New Zealand F.R.P.P.*	$10,000
Patriot Party*	$10,000
The Republic of New Zealand Party	$10,000

*Must register for funding
Source: Electoral Commission

Controversies

Main article: 2005 New Zealand election funding controversy

Police investigated six political parties for alleged breaches of election-spending rules relating to the 2005 election, but brought no prosecutions,^[5] determining that "there was insufficient evidence to indicate that an offence under s214b of the Electoral Act had been committed."^[6] Additionally, claims^{[weasel words]} allege Labour used over $400,000 of taxpayers' money to produce a number of pamphlets and "pledge cards" promoting Labour. The police decided not to lay a prosecution, preferring instead to warn Labour that similar future actions would risk prosecution, because it seemed clear that a number of other parties had also used similar tactics and it would have appeared unfair to single Labour out.

The Auditor-General has also investigated publicly funded party-advertising for the 2005 election, with a leaked preliminary finding of much of the spending as unlawful. Observers expected the release of a final report in October 2006.^[7]

References

1. ^ % change from 1999 result
2. ^ General Statistics
3. ^ Thomson, Ainsley (19 September 2005). "United's 'Mr Reasonable' makes withering attack on Green Party". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/election-2005/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500891&objectid=10346236. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 
4. ^ Labour web site
5. ^ Thomson, Ainsley (18 March 2006). "Labour escapes charges on pledge card but case found". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10373214. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 
6. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
7. ^ Oliver, Paula (11 September 2006). "Report on election spending almost complete". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10400726. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 

Footnotes

• Stephen Levine and Nigel S. Roberts (editors), The Baubles of Office: The New Zealand General Election of 2005 (Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2007). ISBN 978-0-86473-539-3
• Elections New Zealand, joint website of the Electoral Enrolment Centre, Chief Electoral Office, and Electoral Commission.
• 2005 General Election Results from the Chief Electoral Office, Ministry of Justice
• nzvotes.org, comparative information on parties, candidates and electorates
• New Zealand Herald Election 2005 website
• Stuff.co.nz Election 2005 website
• Scoop Election 2005 website
• Scoop Election 2005 campaign diary