The Otahuhu by-election 1963 was a by-election held in the electorate in Auckland during the term of the

33rd New Zealand Parliament The 33rd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the New Zealand Parliament. It was elected at the 1960 general election on 26 November of that year. 1960 general election The 1960 general election was held on Saturday, 26 November. A total of ...

, on 16 March 1963.

Background

The by-election was caused by the death of incumbent MP

James Deas James Deas may refer to: * James Deas (politician) (1891–1963), New Zealand politician * James Deas (engineer) James Deas (1827 – 1899) was a 19th-century Scottish harbour engineer. Life He was born on 30 October 1827 in Edinburgh the so ...

of the Labour Party on 27 January 1963. It was held the same day as the Northern Maori by-election.

Candidates

Communist

The Communist Party chose trade unionist Stan Hieatt, who contested the Otahuhu seat in

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

, as their candidate once again.

Labour

As the Otahuhu electorate was scheduled for abolition at the end of the parliamentary session so the selection for the by-election candidate was also set to choose the candidate for the to be created electorate. The Labour Party chose the president of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee Bob Tizard, who had been MP for from 1957 to 1960, as their candidate. Both party president Martyn Finlay and Colin Moyle (Labour's candidate for in 1957) were rumored to stand but both opted to stand in other electorates (Finlay in and Moyle in ) thus Tizard was selected unopposed.

National

The National Party chose Thomas Tucker a local taxation consultant, who contested Otahuhu in

, as their candidate. He won selection in preference to

Lloyd Elsmore Lloyd, Lloyd's, or Lloyds may refer to: People * Lloyd (name), a variation of the Welsh word ' or ', which means "grey" or "brown" ** List of people with given name Lloyd ** List of people with surname Lloyd * Lloyd (singer) (born 1986), America ...

, the Mayor of Ellerslie, and Ray Presland, who stood for National in electorate in 1960.

Social Credit

The Social Credit Party decided not to contest the election. Party leader Vernon Cracknell said that the election was pointless and a misappropriation of taxpayer funds due to the seat being scheduled for abolition. "The byelection in Otahuhu, a seat which will be abolished in a few months' time, is unnecessary and a waste of public money" said Cracknell.

Results

The following table gives the election results:

Aftermath

The by-election was won by Bob Tizard who represented it from 16 March to 29 October only. When the electorate was abolished and replaced by the electorate at the election, Tizard was elected for the Pakuranga seat instead. Tucker stood for National in , losing to

Arthur Faulkner Arthur James Faulkner (20 November 1921 – 15 May 1985) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Early life and career Faulkner was born in the Auckland suburb of Devonport in 1921. He was educated at Takanini School then Otahuhu D ...

, while Hieatt stood unsuccessfully for the seat.

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Otahuhu By-Election, 1963 Otahuhu 1963 1963 elections in New Zealand Politics of the Auckland Region 1960s in Auckland March 1963 events in New Zealand