1890 New Zealand general election

Electoral redistribution

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, with 12 new electorates created. Of those, four electorates were created for the first time: , , , and . The remaining eight electorates had previously existed and were re-created through the 1890 electoral redistribution: , , , , , , , and .

74 MPs were elected to the 11th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori electorates voted on 27 November and the European (now known as General) electorates on 5 December. There were 183,171 voters registered in the sixty-two European electorates, which returned a total of 70 members. This figure includes 13,668 voters in the six electorates where there was an unopposed return. 136,337 valid votes were cast in European electorates, including additional votes cast in the four three-member electorates.

Results

Party totals

Note that as the election was held before the establishment of formal political parties, the figures should only be regarded as an approximate indication of the division of political opinion.

Votes summary

Mackie and Rose suggest there was a 74.4% turnout, based on valid votes cast as a percentage of the registered electors. The official turnout figure is 80.4%, calculated on a different basis (see the Elections New Zealand official results web-site link below for further details of the changing methods used to calculate the official turnout).

The Māori vote, for the remaining four seats, was held on 27 November. Maori electorates did not have electoral rolls so their voting figures and percentages are not included above.

Electorate results

The following table shows the results of the 1890 general election. Six European members were returned unopposed. :Key

Table footnotes:

References

References

1. Atkinson, Neill (2003), ''Adventures in Democracy: A History of the Vote in New Zealand'', p.81
2. (11 December 1890). "The New Parliament". [[Otago Witness]].
3. "General elections 1853-2005 - dates & turnout". Elections New Zealand.
4. (1891). "The General Election, 1890". [[National Library of New Zealand.
5. (29 November 1890). "Parliamentary candidates". [[The Press]].
6. (9 October 1920). "Obituary". [[The Press]].
7. (28 November 1890). "Bruce Electoral District". Bruce Herald.
8. (29 November 1890). "Election Notices". [[Otago Daily Times]].
9. (1 November 1890). "Mr Greenwood's Dry Humour". Observer.
10. (26 September 1890). "Public Notices". Grey River Argus.
11. (2 December 1893). "Hawke's Bay Electorate". [[Hawke's Bay Herald]].
12. (26 November 1890). "Election News". [[The Evening Post (New Zealand).
13. (17 November 1890). "General Election". Inangahua Times.
14. (28 November 1890). "Ashley Electoral District". [[The Press]].
15. (29 November 1890). "Marsden Electoral District". [[The Northern Advocate]].
16. (20 November 1890). "Gore". [[Otago Witness]].
17. {{DNZB. Oliver. Steven. 2w36. Kate Wyllie. 19 January 2019
18. (25 November 1893). "The Contest in Parnell". [[Auckland Star]].
19. (9 October 2013). "History of The Timaru Herald". [[The Timaru Herald]].
20. (4 December 1890). "The Maori Representation". [[Otago Witness]].
21. (28 November 1890). "Election News". [[The Marlborough Express]].
22. (1 December 1890). "Telegrams". Inangahua Times.
23. (28 October 1890). "By Telegraph". [[The Southland Times]].
24. (28 October 1890). "Maori Electorates". [[The Press]].