title: Westland (New Zealand electorate)
text: # Westland (New Zealand electorate)
  
  Westland was a parliamentary electorate in the West Coast of New Zealand from 1866 to 1868 and 1890 to 1972. In 1972 the Tasman and West Coast electorates replaced the former Buller and Westland electorates.
  
  ## Population centres
  
  In the 1865 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives focussed its review of electorates to South Island electorates only, as the Central Otago Gold Rush had caused significant population growth, and a redistribution of the existing population. Fifteen additional South Island electorates were created, including Westland, and the number of Members of Parliament was increased by 13 to 70.
  
  In December 1887, the House of Representatives voted to reduce its membership from general electorates from 91 to 70. The 1890 electoral redistribution used the same 1886 census data used for the 1887 electoral redistribution. In addition, three-member electorates were introduced in the four main centres. This resulted in a major restructuring of electorates, and Westland was one of eight electorates to be re-created for the 1890 election.
  
  ## History
  
  The electorate was formed for the 1866 election. William Sefton Moorhouse stood in the electorate and was returned 16 March 1866 in favour of William Shaw.
  
  The general election was held on 22 February 1866 in the Mount Herbert electorate, in which Moorhouse was returned unopposed. Having been elected in two electorates, Moorhouse chose to represent Westland. Moorhouse resigned on 20 February 1868.
  
  Joseph Grimmond, who had since 1887 represented the Hokitika electorate, contested the Westland electorate in the 1890 general election against Richard Seddon, with Seddon being successful. In the 1893 election, Seddon was returned unopposed. In the 1896 election, Seddon was again opposed by Grimmond but remained successful. Seddon held the electorate until his death in 1906. He was succeeded by his son Tom, who in turn represented the electorate until his defeat in the 1925 election by Labour's James O'Brien.
  
  ### Members of Parliament
  
  The electorate was represented by seven Members of Parliament:
  
  Key
  
  Independent  Liberal  Labour
  
  | Election | Winner |
  | - | - |
  | 1866 election | William Sefton Moorhouse |
  | (Electorate abolished 1868–1890, see Westland South, Westland North, Waimea, and Westland Boroughs) |||
  | 1890 election | Richard Seddon |
  | 1893 election | Richard Seddon |
  | 1896 election | Richard Seddon |
  | 1899 election | Richard Seddon |
  | 1902 election | Richard Seddon |
  | 1905 election | Richard Seddon |
  | 1906 by-election | Tom Seddon |
  | 1908 election | Tom Seddon |
  | 1911 election | Tom Seddon |
  | 1914 election | Tom Seddon |
  | 1919 election | Tom Seddon |
  | 1922 election | James O'Brien |
  | 1925 election | Tom Seddon (2nd period) |
  | 1928 election | James O'Brien (2nd period) |
  | 1931 election | James O'Brien (2nd period) |
  | 1935 election | James O'Brien (2nd period) |
  | 1938 election | James O'Brien (2nd period) |
  | 1943 election | James O'Brien (2nd period) |
  | 1946 election | James O'Brien (2nd period) |
  | 1947 by-election | Jim Kent |
  | 1949 election | Jim Kent |
  | 1951 election | Jim Kent |
  | 1954 election | Jim Kent |
  | 1957 election | Jim Kent |
  | 1960 election | Paddy Blanchfield |
  | 1963 election | Paddy Blanchfield |
  | 1966 election | Paddy Blanchfield |
  | 1969 election | Paddy Blanchfield |
  | (Electorate abolished in 1972, see West Coast and Tasman) |||
  
  ## Election results
  
  ### 1969 election
  
  1969 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Paddy Blanchfield | 6,449 | 44.30 | -12.01 |
  | | Independent | Barry Dallas | 4,570 | 31.39 | |
  | | National | George Ferguson | 2,548 | 17.50 | -8.95 |
  | | Social Credit | Ian Fraser | 988 | 6.78 | -9.43 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,879 | 12.90 | -16.96 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,555 | 90.91 | +1.52 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,010 | | |
  
  ### 1966 election
  
  1966 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Paddy Blanchfield | 7,621 | 56.31 | -4.48 |
  | | National | George Ferguson | 3,580 | 26.45 | |
  | | Social Credit | Ian Fraser | 2,194 | 16.21 | +4.44 |
  | | Communist | Robert Henry Mitchell | 138 | 1.01 | -0.14 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,041 | 29.86 | -4.66 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,533 | 89.39 | -1.91 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,138 | | |
  
  ### 1963 election
  
  1963 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Paddy Blanchfield | 8,672 | 60.79 | +1.91 |
  | | National | Winston Reynolds | 3,747 | 26.26 | |
  | | Social Credit | Ian Fraser | 1,680 | 11.77 | +3.29 |
  | | Communist | Robert Henry Mitchell | 165 | 1.15 | -0.35 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,925 | 34.52 | +6.76 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,264 | 91.30 | -0.72 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,622 | | |
  
  ### 1960 election
  
  1960 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Paddy Blanchfield | 8,153 | 58.88 | |
  | | National | D A Hogg | 4,309 | 31.12 | |
  | | Social Credit | Ian Fraser | 1,175 | 8.48 | +3.03 |
  | | Communist | Robert Henry Mitchell | 208 | 1.50 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,844 | 27.76 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,845 | 92.02 | -1.19 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,045 | | |
  
  ### 1957 election
  
  1957 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Jim Kent | 9,159 | 63.22 | +4.00 |
  | | National | Fred Boustridge | 4,414 | 30.46 | |
  | | Social Credit | Ian Fraser | 790 | 5.45 | -1.26 |
  | | Communist | Donald McEwan | 124 | 0.85 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,725 | 32.61 | +6.43 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,487 | 93.21 | +0.45 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,542 | | |
  
  ### 1954 election
  
  1954 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Jim Kent | 8,152 | 59.22 | +0.48 |
  | | Independent | Mark Wallace | 4,547 | 33.03 | |
  | | Social Credit | Ian Fraser | 925 | 6.71 | |
  | | Communist | Robert Henry Mitchell | 141 | 1.02 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,605 | 26.18 | +8.69 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,765 | 92.76 | -4.70 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,839 | | |
  
  ### 1951 election
  
  1951 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Jim Kent | 7,806 | 58.74 | -0.09 |
  | | National | Isabella Catherine Brown | 5,481 | 41.25 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,325 | 17.49 | -2.65 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,287 | 88.06 | -5.17 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,087 | | |
  
  ### 1949 election
  
  1949 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Jim Kent | 8,013 | 58.83 | +0.09 |
  | | National | Patrick Joseph O'Regan | 5,269 | 38.68 | |
  | | Communist | Robert Henry Mitchell | 338 | 2.48 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,744 | 20.14 | +2.65 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,620 | 93.23 | +2.88 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,608 | | |
  
  ### 1947 by-election
  
  1947 Westland by-election :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Jim Kent | 7,427 | 57.64 | |
  | | National | Jack Lockington | 5,405 | 41.95 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 54 | 0.41 | -0.01 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,022 | 15.76 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,886 | 90.35 | -4.10 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,262 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### 1946 election
  
  1946 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | James O'Brien | 9,097 | 67.21 |
  | | National | Frank Chivers | 4,381 | 32.36 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 57 | 0.42 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,716 | 34.99 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,535 | 94.45 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,330 | |
  
  ### 1931 election
  
  1931 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | James O'Brien | 5,193 | 56.05 | +5.02 |
  | | Independent | John Greenslade | 4,072 | 43.95 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,121 | 12.10 | +10.04 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 63 | 0.68 | -0.38 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,328 | 91.21 | -2.54 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,227 | | |
  
  ### 1928 election
  
  1928 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | James O'Brien | 4,576 | 51.03 | +1.92 |
  | | United | Tom Seddon | 4,391 | 48.97 | -0.28 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 96 | 1.06 | -0.56 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 185 | 2.06 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,063 | 93.75 | -0.86 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,667 | | |
  
  ### 1925 election
  
  1925 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Tom Seddon | 4,175 | 49.25 | +18.48 |
  | | Labour | James O'Brien | 4,163 | 49.11 | +12.19 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 138 | 1.62 | +0.97 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 0.14 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,476 | 94.61 | +1.87 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,958 | | |
  
  ### 1922 election
  
  1922 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | James O'Brien | 2,926 | 36.92 | -1.77 |
  | | Liberal | Tom Seddon | 2,439 | 30.77 | -29.33 |
  | | Reform | Jesse Steer | 1,952 | 24.63 | |
  | | Independent | James Daniel Lynch | 556 | 7.01 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 52 | 0.65 | -0.56 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 487 | 6.14 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,925 | 92.74 | +8.64 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,545 | | |
  
  ### 1919 election
  
  1919 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Tom Seddon | 4,201 | 60.10 |
  | | Labour | James O'Brien | 2,704 | 38.69 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 85 | 1.21 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,497 | 21.41 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,990 | 84.10 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,311 | |
  
  ### 1906 by-election
  
  1906 Westland by-election :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Tom Seddon | 2,403 | 58.81 | |
  | | Conservative | Henry Michel | 1,683 | 41.18 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 720 | 17.62 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,086 | 91.12 | +10.05 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,484 | | |
  
  ### 1905 election
  
  1905 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Richard Seddon | 3,420 | 92.05 | -0.58 |
  | | Independent | Harry Cowin | 240 | 6.46 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 55 | 1.48 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,180 | 85.59 | +0.32 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,715 | 81.07 | +11.20 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,582 | | |
  
  ### 1902 election
  
  1902 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Richard Seddon | 2,983 | 92.63 |
  | | Independent | Frank Isitt | 237 | 7.36 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,746 | 85.27 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,220 | 69.87 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,608 | |
  
  ### 1899 election
  
  1899 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Richard Seddon | Unopposed | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,427 | | |
  
  ### 1896 election
  
  1896 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Richard Seddon | 2,707 | 76.66 |
  | | Conservative | Joseph Grimmond | 824 | 23.34 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,883 | 53.33 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,508 | |
  
  ### 1893 election
  
  1893 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Richard Seddon | Unopposed | | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,186 | | |
  
  ### 1890 election
  
  1890 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Richard Seddon | 1,098 | 59.10 |
  | | Conservative | Joseph Grimmond | 760 | 40.90 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 338 | 18.19 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,858 | 73.06 |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,543 | |
  
  ### 1866 election
  
  1866 general election: Westland :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | William Sefton Moorhouse | 202 | 55.49 |
  | | Independent | William Shaw | 162 | 44.51 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 10.99 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 364 | |
  | Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |
  