The Rangitikei by-election of 1978 was a
by-election
A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...
in the
New Zealand electorate of
Rangitikei, a predominantly rural district in the middle of New Zealand's
North Island. The by-election occurred on 18 February 1978, and was precipitated by the death of sitting
National Party member of parliament (and
Speaker of the House
The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England.
Usage
The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...
)
Sir Roy Jack in December 1977.
Background
The by-election was contested by all major parties. It was won by
Bruce Beetham
Bruce Craig Beetham (16 February 1936 – 3 May 1997) was an academic and politician from New Zealand, whose career spanned the 1970s and early 1980s.
A lecturer at Hamilton's University of Waikato and at the Hamilton Teachers' Training Colle ...
, the
Social Credit Party candidate, with a majority of 1,335. He became the second Social Credit Party MP in New Zealand's history. This upset was extremely rare in the post-war political climate of New Zealand, especially in a rural electorate that traditionally voted National (although such voting is more likely in a by-election). The National Party candidate Jim Bull came second, the
Labour Party candidate (and rugby coach)
JJ Stewart came third and the
Values Party
The Values Party was a New Zealand political party. It is considered the world's first national-level environmentalist party, pre-dating the use of "Green" as a political label. It was established in May 1972 at Victoria University of Wellingto ...
candidate Denis Hocking came fourth. JJ Stewart was a former teacher of Beetham's at
New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth Boys' High School is a single-sex boys' state secondary school in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.
The school currently caters for approximately 1300 students, including 210 boarders, on its site.
The school often collabora ...
who once gave him a caning.
Beetham was the Social Credit leader and had polled a strong second in the seat in
1975
It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe.
Events
January
* January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...
. National was hampered as its candidate was only a stand in until the general election later in the year. Sir Roy Jack had planned to retire then, to be replaced by the Minister of Education
Les Gandar
Leslie Walter Gandar (26 January 1919 – 16 December 1994) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
Biography Early life and career
Gandar was born in 1919. He received his education from Kelburn Normal, Wellington College, and Vi ...
whose
Ruahine seat had been abolished in boundary changes.
Results
The following table gives the election results:
See also
*
Rangitikei by-election (disambiguation), other by-elections for the Rangitikei electorate
Notes
References
*
External links
Article by Fiona Rae from ''The New Zealand Listener'' of 7 May 2011
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rangitikei By-Election, 1978
Rangitikei 1978
1978 elections in New Zealand
Politics of Rangitikei
1978 in New Zealand
February 1978 events in New Zealand