Hokitika is a former parliamentary

electorate Electorate may refer to: * The people who are eligible to vote in an election, especially their number e.g. the term ''size of (the) electorate'' * The dominion of a Prince-elector in the Holy Roman Empire until 1806 * An electoral district An ...

in the

West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

region of New Zealand, based on the town of

Hokitika Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is as of . ...

. It existed from 1871 to 1890 and was represented by nine

members of parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

. For a time, it was one of the two-member electorates in New Zealand.

History

The Hokitika electorate existed from the 1871 general election to 1890. John White was its first representative until the end of the parliamentary term in 1875, when he retired. Beginning with the 1875–1876 general election, which was held in Hokitika on 14 January 1876, the electorate was represented by two members.

Edmund Barff Edmund Barff (5 March 1833 – 29 June 1882) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand. Barff was born in the English county of Kent on 5 March 1833, probably at Lee (now part of Greater London), where he was ba ...

and

Charles Button Charles Edward Button (23 August 1838 – 27 December 1920) was a solicitor, Supreme Court judge, Mayor of Hokitika and later Birkenhead, and an independent conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Born in Tasmania, he came to New Zeala ...

were elected, Robert Reid and

Richard Seddon Richard John Seddon (22 June 1845 – 10 June 1906) was a New Zealand politician who served as the List of prime ministers of New Zealand, 15th Prime Minister of New Zealand, premier (prime minister) of New Zealand from 1893 until his death. ...

(the later Premier) were defeated, and

Conrad Hoos Conrad may refer to: People * Conrad (name) Places United States * Conrad, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Conrad, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Conrad, Iowa, a city * Conrad, Montana, a city * Conrad Glacier, Washingto ...

withdrew just before the election. Barff served the whole term until 1879, while Button resigned in May 1878 and was succeeded by Seymour Thorne George in an 1878 by-election, and who a year later successfully stood in the Rodney electorate. Robert Reid and

were elected in the 1879 general election. Seddon, who was later

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...

("King Dick"), was in 1881 elected for Kumara. Reid contested the 1881 general election against Gerard George Fitzgerald, with the latter being successful. John Bevan won the 1884 general election, and he was succeeded in the 1887 election by

Joseph Grimmond Joseph Grimmond (1843 – 27 November 1924) was a gold miner and politician from the West Coast, New Zealand. He was mayor of Ross for many years, represented the Hokitika electorate in the House of Representatives for one term, and was late ...

. In 1890, the Hokitika electorate was abolished. Grimmond stood in the Westland electorate instead, but was defeated by Richard Seddon.

Members of parliament

Hokitika was represented by nine

1871 to 1875

From 1871 to 1875, Hokitika was a single-member electorate. It was represented by one Member of Parliament.

1876 to 1881

From 1876 to 1881, Hokitika was a two-member electorate. It was represented by five Members of Parliament.

1881 to 1890

From 1881 to 1890, Hokitika was again a single-member electorate, represented by three Members of Parliament.

Election results

1887 election

1884 election

1881 election

1879 election

1878 by-election

1876 election

Table footnotes

Notes

References

* * * {{Historic electorates of New Zealand , state=collapsed Politics of the West Coast, New Zealand Hokitika 1870 establishments in New Zealand 1890 disestablishments in New Zealand