1980 Northern Maori by-election

Candidates

Labour Party

As Northern Maori was a safe Labour seat, having held it since , there was a large amount of interest in the candidacy. The sheer geographic size of the electorate also caused interest from candidates to be spread widely, Northern Maori stretched from Cape Reinga in the north to Panmure in the south.

A total of 11 candidates were nominated:

• John Antonio, a social worker from Mission Bay
• Rameka Cope, a community officer from Hokianga
• Ivan Erstich, a truck driver from Kaitaia
• Dr Bruce Gregory, a general practitioner from Kaitaia
• Laly Haddon, a former Māori All Black
• Te Kairarahi Hui, a Maori welfare officer from Auckland
• Hemi Kingi, a teacher from Hamilton
• Peter Love, a marketing consultant from Auckland who was previously a candidate for the National Party
• Bertram McLean, a naval officer from Auckland
• Jon Matthews, a schoolteacher from Kaitaia
• William Rawiri, a branch manager from Tinopai

The selection process was completed on 4 May, where Bruce Gregory was selected.

Mana Motuhake

After becoming dissatisfied with the Labour Party's Māori policies Matiu Rata had begun to lose the confidence of his colleagues. Eventually he was deposed as chairman of Labour's Maori Affairs committee and removed from Labour's front bench, prompting him to resign from the party. He then formed his own party, Mana Motuhake which would advocate for Maori self-determination. To help in the establishment of the party, Rata sought a by-election to gain voter approval for his new party and its agenda.

Social Credit

Anticipating that Rata would force a by-election, the Social Credit Party selected Joe Toia, a Dargaville forestry foreman, in March 1980. Toia was the Māori representative on the party's dominion council and had contested the seat at the last three elections. Toia was previously a Labour Party member and had been beaten by Rata for the Labour nomination at the 1963 Northern Maori by-election.

Others

The National Party did not contest the election, a decision that was criticised by Social Credit deputy-leader Jeremy Dwyer as "chickening out". The Values Party decided not to stand a candidate in Northern Maori. Party leader Margaret Crozier endorsed Rata, saying that Values agreed with his aim for Maori self-determination which was already part of Values Party policy. Wallace Hetaraka, a carver and craft shop owner, stood for the Cheer Up Party (a joke party).

Results

The following table gives the election results:

Notes

References

References

1. (26 April 1980). "Same day for by-elections". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
2. (30 April 1980). "Ex-National Man Seeks Labour Nod". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
3. (1 May 1980). "Two More Seek Vote". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
4. (5 May 1980). "Labour Going For the Doctor". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
5. "Matiu Rata: Biography". NZ History.
6. (12 March 1980). "Maori Socred candidate". [[The Press]].
7. (6 June 1980). "Labour's candidate set for Northern victory". [[The Press]].
8. (16 February 1963). "Candidate Next Week". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
9. (1 May 1980). "National Poll 'Sheer Expediency'". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
10. (8 May 1980). "No Values Entry". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
11. (28 May 1980). "Cheer up!". [[The Press]].