1984 New Zealand general election

Background

Before the election, the National Party governed with 47 seats, a small majority. The opposition Labour Party held 43 seats, and the Social Credit Party held two. Although National theoretically commanded a two-seat lead over the other parties, dissent within the National caucus (particularly by Marilyn Waring and Mike Minogue) resulted in serious problems for National leader Robert Muldoon. Muldoon felt that he could no longer maintain a majority until the end of the sitting year.

The 1984 election was called when Waring told Muldoon that she would not support his government in the vote over an opposition-sponsored anti-nuclear bill. Muldoon, visibly drunk, announced a snap election on national television on the night of 14 June. It is believed that Muldoon's behaviour was also the result of a number of personal factors, including, not least, tiredness and frustration, but alcohol and diabetes also, issues that had been plaguing him for some time. Muldoon's drunkenness while making the announcement led to the election being nicknamed the "schnapps election".

There is debate over whether the election was necessary—Waring had not threatened to block confidence and supply, meaning that the government could still have continued on even if it had lost the anti-nuclear vote. Nevertheless, Muldoon appears to have wanted an election to reinforce his mandate (just as Sidney Holland sought and won a mandate to oppose striking dock-workers with the 1951 snap election).

Muldoon's government, which had been growing increasingly unpopular in its third term, was seen as rigid, inflexible, and increasingly unresponsive to public concerns. The Labour Party had actually gained a plurality of the vote in the previous two elections, but had narrowly missed out on getting a majority of the seats. Labour's primary campaign message was one of change—Muldoon's government, which employed wage and price controls in an attempt to "guide" the economy, was widely blamed for poor economic performance. Labour also campaigned to reduce government borrowing, and to enact nuclear-free policy.

The New Zealand Party, founded by property tycoon Bob Jones, was launched primarily to oppose the Muldoon government (although it did not support Labour). A right-wing liberal party, it promoted less government control over markets, in contrast to the paternalist and somewhat authoritarian policies of National, the other significant right-wing party.

MPs retiring in 1984

Seven National MPs and two Labour MPs intended to retire at the end of the 40th Parliament.

Electoral changes

The 1983 electoral redistribution was even more politically influenced than the previous one in 1977. The Labour Party believed it had been disadvantaged in 1977 and it was not to let this happen again. Every proposal was put to intense scrutiny, and this resulted in the electoral redistribution taking forty-one working days; the average length of the five previous redistributions was eight. As Social Credit had two MPs, the Labour Party nominee on the commission formally represented that party, which further increased tensions. The 1981 census had shown that the North Island had experienced further population growth, and three additional general seats were created, bringing the total number of electorates to 95. The South Island had, for the first time, experienced a population loss, but its number of general electorates was fixed at 25 since the 1967 electoral redistribution. More of the South Island population was moving to Christchurch, and two electorates were abolished ( and ), while two electorates were recreated ( and ). In the North Island, six electorates were newly created (, , , , , and ), three electorates were recreated (, , and ), and six electorates were abolished (, , , , , and ).

The election

The election was held on 14 July. There were 2,111,651 registered voters. Turnout was 93.7%, the highest turnout ever recorded in a New Zealand election. Most political scientists attribute the high turnout to a desire by voters for change.

Immediately after the election there was a constitutional crisis when Muldoon initially refused to follow the advice of the incoming Labour government and devalue the New Zealand dollar.

Results

The 1984 election saw the Labour Party win 56 of the 95 seats in parliament, a gain of 13. This was enough for it to hold an outright majority and form the fourth Labour government. The National Party won only 37 seats, a loss of ten. The New Zealand Party, despite winning 12.2% of the vote, failed to gain any seats at all. Social Credit managed to win two seats, the same number as it had held previously. The Values Party, an environmentalist group, gained fifth place, but no seats.

There were 95 seats being contested in the 1984 election, three more than in the previous parliament. All but two of these seats were won by one of the two major parties.

The Labour Party, previously in opposition, won 56 seats, an outright majority. Most of the seats won by Labour were in urban areas, following the party's typical pattern. Exceptions to this general trend include the eastern tip of the North Island and the western coast of the South Island. Labour's strongest regions were the Wellington area (where the party won every seat), as well as the western and southern areas of Auckland where most of the poorest lived, Christchurch and Dunedin (cities in which it won most seats). Smaller cities such as Hamilton, Nelson, Napier, Hastings and Palmerston North were also won by Labour. As expected, Labour also won all four Māori seats, maintaining its traditional strength there.

The National Party, the incumbent government, was (as expected) strongest in rural areas. Most of the rural North Island was won by National, as were most of the rural areas on the South Island's eastern coast. In the larger cities, the party fared poorly, with the northern and the eastern affluent areas of Auckland and the western areas of Christchurch being the only places that the party won seats. It was more successful in smaller cities, however, winning Rotorua, Tauranga, Invercargill, New Plymouth and Whangārei. It was placed second in two Māori electorates, and third in the other two.

The only minor party to win electorates was the Social Credit Party, which won East Coast Bays and Pakuranga (both in Auckland). It had held East Coast Bays before the election, but won Pakuranga for the first time. It did not manage to retain Rangitikei, which it had also held before the election. Social Credit candidates were placed second in six electorates, including Rangitikei.

The New Zealand Party, despite gaining more votes than Social Credit, did not win any seats. Some commentators have suggested that the party was not seeking to do so, and instead was merely acting as a spoiler for National. This impression has been backed up by comments by Bob Jones himself. The party was, however, placed second in the electorates of Remuera (an affluent part of Auckland), Kaimai, and Tauranga.

The Values Party, an environmentalist group, managed to win 0.2% of the vote, substantially below previous efforts. The party, which was in slow decline, would eventually vanish, but its ideals and goals would be reborn in the Green Party.

In two of the Māori electorates, the Mana Motuhake party gained second place, but the party did not gain a substantial number of votes elsewhere.

No independent candidates won seats, but one independent candidate, Mel Courtney, was placed second in the electorate of Nelson.

Detailed results

Party results

Votes summary

Electorate results

The tables below shows the results of the 1984 general election:

Key

References

References

1. "Robert Muldoon {{!}} NZHistory, New Zealand history online".
2. Johansson, Jon. (2005). "Two titans : Muldoon, Lange and leadership". Dunmore Publishing.
3. "Eyewitness News – Snap Election Setup". NZ On Screen.
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5. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLDve40cxlk YouTube – Drunk Muldoon calls the 1984 election]
6. Johansson, Jon. (2005). "Two titans : Muldoon, Lange and leadership". Dunmore Publishing.
7. (9 July 2010). "Robert Muldoon". Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
8. Martin Johnston. (2019-06-14). "The night Prime Minister Rob Muldoon gambled on a snap election – June 1984 remembered". New Zealand Herald.
9. Shand, G. G.. (22 August 1983). "Jones Party Aims to Occupy Political Gap". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
10. (10 March 1984). "News on deputy today?". [[The Press]].
11. (9 November 1982). "Kaipara M.P. to retire". [[The Press]].
12. Hannah, Michael. (18 June 1984). "Quigley resignation shock for National". [[The Press]].
13. (25 March 1983). "Mr Highet hits back". [[The Press]].
14. (8 February 1984). "Mr Thomson to retire at election". [[The Press]].
15. (17 March 1984). "Ill-health forces Minister to quit". [[The Press]].
16. (14 February 1984). "Ms Waring to retire". [[The Press]].
17. (26 April 1983). "Mr Rowling ‘not part’". [[The Press]].
18. (2 May 1983). "Mr Connelly to end 27 years as Labour M.P.". [[The Press]].
19. "The leaders of the four main political parties (from left), Sir Robert Muldoon, Mr David Lange, Mr Bruce Beetham, and Mr Bob Jones, at the Avalon television studios yesterday. The four took part in a debate on the main issues of the election campaign in a programme on Television One last evening.".
20. "ELECTION COVERAGE – THE LEADERS DEBATE ELECTION 1984".
21. "THE LEADERS DEBATE. 08/07/1984".
22. "Big two debate".
23. "Four leaders in radio talkback".
24. (19 September 2017). "Election flashback: 'He's won on a nothing policy' – watch bitter Muldoon concede to Lange in 1984". [[TVNZ]].
25. (2 August 2005). "July 1984: When life in NZ turned upside down". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
26. "Comments {{!}} The 1984 Leaders Debate {{!}} Television".