The 1963 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was held on 26 February to choose the sixth leader of the

New Zealand Labour Party The New Zealand Labour Party ( mi, Rōpū Reipa o Aotearoa), or simply Labour (), is a centre-left political party in New Zealand. The party's platform programme describes its founding principle as democratic socialism, while observers descr ...

. The election was won by

Island Bay Island Bay is a coastal suburb of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, situated south of the city centre. Island Bay lies on the bay which shares its name, one of numerous small bays off Cook Strait and west of Lyall Bay. 500m offshore in ...

MP Arnold Nordmeyer. This is the first time that a new leader had been elected which wasn't triggered by the death of the previous leader.

Background

Leader Walter Nash had led Labour since 1951 and after his government's defeat 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 ...

he defied expectations by not announcing his intention to retire from the leadership. Pressure within the Labour Party membership built up for a leadership change, though Nash was reluctant to stand down and was determined not be succeeded by Nordmeyer. His preferred successor, Jerry Skinner, died in April 1962 though Nash decided still to remain leader for the 1963 election with

Fred Hackett Frederick Hackett (1901 – 19 March 1963) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was a minister in both the First and Second Labour Governments of New Zealand and later the deputy leader of the opposition. Early life Hackett w ...

elected as his new deputy. However, in December 1962 party president Martyn Finlay (who had a strained relationship with Nash) wrote a letter to the caucus recommending a change in leadership, though was careful enough not to specifically suggest a successor. Following this, Nash finally announced his resignation and Hackett was known to be terminally ill. Both of Nash's deputy leaders were unable to succeed him and other potential leadership contenders

Michael Moohan Michael Moohan (27 April 1899 – 7 February 1967) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Seldom known to anyone by anything other than "Mick", he was a major organizational figure in the Labour Party's early history and went on to b ...

, Norman Kirk and Hugh Watt ruled themselves out.

Candidates

Arnold Nordmeyer

Arnold Nordmeyer had been a contender for the leadership for many years prior. By 1963 his only convincing rival, Jerry Skinner, had died in April 1962 and

, another contender, had died in March 1963.

Result

As Nordmeyer was the only officially nominated candidate, he was universally elected as leader. Nash remained leader until 31 March and Nordmeyer took over his roles as party leader and

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

Deputy-leadership ballot

Aftermath

Nordmeyer would remain the Labour Party's leader until 1965 when he was ousted as leader by Norman Kirk. He led Labour to an election loss in

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cov ...

where Labour's vote did increase though only equated to one extra seat. Deputy leader Hugh Watt remained in his position despite the leadership change.

Notes

References

* * {{New Zealand Labour Party Labour Party leadership

New Zealand Labour Party leadership election February 1963 events in New Zealand