Selwyn is a current electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives, composed of towns on the outskirts of Christchurch city. The electorate was first formed for the 1866 election and has been abolished three times during its history. It was last re-established for the 2008 election and has been held by Nicola Grigg for the National Party since the 2020 election.
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The electorate is mainly rural, stretching from the Southern Alps to the Banks Peninsula, its borders broadly defined by the Rakaia River in the south and the Waimakariri River in the north. Major towns include Rolleston, Lincoln, Prebbleton, and Darfield, with smaller towns such as Tai Tapu, Leeston and Dunsandel. The electorate also includes parts of Christchurch city's territorial authority.
Existence and changes to area
An electorate called Selwyn existed between 1866 and 1919. A Selwyn electorate also existed between 1946 and 1972 and again from 1978 until it was absorbed by Rakaia for the first MMP election in 1996. The latest version of the Selwyn electorate was created for the 2008 election. This followed a review of electoral boundaries conducted after the 2006 Census, because of a general northwards population movement in the South Island. Even though the number of South Island electorates is fixed, the decline in the population of electorates from Rakaia south has resulted in the boundaries of electorates from Invercargill north to Rakaia shifting further northwards.
Due to the rapid growth of Selwyn relative to Christchurch (which lost population after the earthquakes), the 2013 redistribution had Selwyn losing Halswell and Westmorland to Port Hills and Harewood to Waimakariri while regaining the towns of Rakaia and Chertsey back from Rangitata.[2] Data from the 2018 census showed Selywn's population had continued to grow – it had the largest discrepancy of any electorate – and so the electorate would need to lose further area for the 2020 boundaries.[3] It shed an area around Hornby South to Wigram, the Banks Peninsula to the recreated Banks Peninsula, the area west of the Rakaia to Rangitata, and an area around Christchurch Airport to Ilam.[4]
Voting history
Edward Stevens was the electorate's first representative in 1866; he was returned elected unopposed.[5]
The dominant topic for the 1875 election was the abolition of the Provinces. William Reeves, the incumbent, favoured the retention of the provincial system of government, while his opponent, Cecil Fitzroy, was an abolitionist. Fitzroy, who was 31 years old and 20 years Reeves' junior, narrowly won the election.[6][7] Edward Lee acted as returning officer for the election.[8]
In the 1879 election, John Hall was returned unopposed.[9] In the 1881 election, Hall beat R. Lockhead by 467 to 169 votes.[10][11]
In the 1890 election, Alfred Saunders, Thomas Hamilton Anson, and William Jerrington Popple received 536, 485 and 237 votes, respectively.[12]
The electorate is one of the National Party's safest seats. National have held the seat, whenever it has existed since it was first recreated in 1946. In 2011, the candidate for the other major New Zealand party, Labour, received less than 11% of the electoral vote and came third, behind the Greens in the 2011 election. In that election, the only polling booths where Adams didn't receive the most votes were Arthur's Pass and Diamond Harbour.
List MPs
Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Selwyn electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.
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2023 election
More information 2023 general election results: Selwyn, Notes: ...
2023 general election results: Selwyn[13] |
Notes: |
Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
Party votes |
% |
±% |
|
National |
Y Nicola Grigg |
31,504 |
65.42 |
+15.87 |
23,959 |
49.27 |
+15.26 |
|
Labour |
Luke Jones |
11,722 |
24.34 |
-13.48 |
8,805 |
18.10 |
-24.02 |
|
ACT |
Ben Harvey |
2,822 |
5.86 |
+1.40 |
5,895 |
12.12 |
-0.44 |
|
NZ Loyal |
Logan Courtney |
1,022 |
2.12 |
|
430 |
0.88 |
|
|
New Conservatives |
Abe Coulter |
506 |
1.05 |
-1.10 |
136 |
0.28 |
-1.49 |
|
Green |
|
4,340 |
8.93 |
+4.06 |
|
NZ First |
|
2,633 |
5.42 |
+3.42 |
|
Opportunities |
|
1,037 |
2.69 |
+1.38 |
|
Te Pāti Māori |
|
235 |
0.48 |
+0.34 |
|
NewZeal |
|
225 |
0.46 |
|
|
Legalise Cannabis |
|
184 |
0.38 |
+0.18 |
|
Animal Justice |
|
91 |
0.19 |
|
|
DemocracyNZ |
|
89 |
0.18 |
|
|
Freedoms NZ |
|
62 |
0.13 |
|
|
Leighton Baker Party |
|
41 |
0.08 |
|
|
Women's Rights |
|
39 |
0.08 |
|
|
New Nation |
|
30 |
0.06 |
|
Informal votes |
578 |
|
|
119 |
|
|
Total valid votes |
48,154 |
|
|
48,624 |
|
|
|
National hold |
Majority |
19,782 |
41.08 |
+29.35 |
|
Close
2020 election
More information 2020 general election, Notes: ...
2020 general election: Selwyn[14] |
Notes: |
Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
Party votes |
% |
±% |
|
National |
Nicola Grigg |
20,986 |
49.55 |
−16.31 |
14,616 |
34.01 |
−25.00 |
|
Labour |
Reuben Davidson |
16,018 |
37.82 |
+17.05 |
18,102 |
42.12 |
+16.01 |
|
ACT |
Stuart Armstrong |
1,890 |
4.46 |
+4.01 |
5,396 |
12.56 |
+12.10 |
|
Green |
Abe O'Donnell |
1,749 |
4.13 |
−2.23 |
2,092 |
4.87 |
−0.44 |
|
New Conservative |
Bronwyn Lyell |
910 |
2.15 |
— |
761 |
1.77 |
+1.57 |
|
Independent |
Calvin Payne |
436 |
1.03 |
— |
|
|
Advance NZ |
Jerry Larason |
362 |
0.85 |
— |
306 |
0.71 |
— |
|
NZ First |
|
861 |
2.00 |
−3.53 |
|
Opportunities |
|
564 |
1.31 |
−1.25 |
|
Legalise Cannabis |
|
85 |
0.20 |
+0.02 |
|
Māori Party |
|
59 |
0.14 |
−0.03 |
|
ONE |
|
49 |
0.11 |
— |
|
Outdoors |
|
38 |
0.09 |
+0.01 |
|
Sustainable NZ |
|
25 |
0.06 |
— |
|
TEA |
|
9 |
0.02 |
— |
|
Vision NZ |
|
5 |
0.01 |
— |
|
Heartland |
|
4 |
0.01 |
— |
|
Social Credit |
|
2 |
0.00 |
−0.00 |
Informal votes |
654 |
|
|
219 |
|
|
Total valid votes |
42,351 |
|
|
42,975 |
|
|
|
National hold |
Majority |
4,968 |
11.73 |
−33.36 |
|
Close
2017 election
More information 2017 general election, Notes: ...
2017 general election: Selwyn[15] |
Notes: |
Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
Party votes |
% |
±% |
|
National |
Y Amy Adams |
28,686 |
65.86 |
-4.11 |
26,003 |
59.00 |
-4.58 |
|
Labour |
Tony Condon |
9,047 |
20.77 |
+9.22 |
11,508 |
26.11 |
+13.14 |
|
Green |
Chrys Horn |
2,772 |
6.36 |
-5.19 |
2,339 |
5.30 |
-5.60 |
|
NZ First |
Lindy Michelle Palmer |
1,345 |
3.08 |
-2.15 |
2,440 |
5.53 |
-1.42 |
|
Opportunities |
Nicky Snoyink |
1,270 |
2.91 |
— |
1,131 |
2.56 |
— |
|
ACT |
Brian Davidson |
198 |
0.45 |
+0.21 |
201 |
0.45 |
+0.06 |
|
Conservative |
|
87 |
0.2 |
-3.29 |
|
Legalise Cannabis |
|
79 |
0.2 |
-0.13 |
|
Māori Party |
|
75 |
0.17 |
-0.14 |
|
Ban 1080 |
|
41 |
0.09 |
-0.13 |
|
Outdoors |
|
36 |
0.08 |
— |
|
United Future |
|
32 |
0.07 |
-0.17 |
|
People's Party |
|
11 |
0.02 |
— |
|
Internet |
|
6 |
0.01 |
-0.5[a] |
|
Democrats |
|
3 |
0.01 |
-0.02 |
|
Mana |
|
2 |
0 |
-0.51[b] |
Informal votes |
235 |
|
|
74 |
|
|
Total valid votes |
43,553 |
|
|
44,068 |
|
|
|
National hold |
Majority |
19,639 |
45.09 |
-13.33 |
|
Close
2014 election
More information 2014 general election, Notes: ...
2014 general election: Selwyn[16] |
Notes: |
Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
Party votes |
% |
±% |
|
National |
Y Amy Adams |
24,625 |
69.97 |
+0.83 |
22,809 |
63.58 |
+0.93 |
|
Green |
Peter Selwyn Hill |
4,064 |
11.55 |
+1.37 |
3,910 |
10.90 |
-0.54 |
|
Labour |
Gordon John Dickson |
3,835 |
10.90 |
-4.37 |
4,654 |
12.97 |
-3.15 |
|
NZ First |
Bill Woods |
1,841 |
5.23 |
+1.69 |
2,494 |
6.95 |
+2.20 |
|
Conservative |
Roger Clibborn |
619 |
1.76 |
-0.12 |
1,253 |
3.49 |
+1.03 |
|
Māori Party |
Sheryl Gardyne |
129 |
0.37 |
+0.37 |
111 |
0.31 |
-0.06 |
|
ACT |
Paul Gilbert |
83 |
0.24 |
+0.24 |
139 |
0.39 |
-0.52 |
|
Internet Mana |
|
184 |
0.51 |
+0.37 |
|
Legalise Cannabis |
|
120 |
0.33 |
+0.00 |
|
United Future |
|
87 |
0.24 |
-0.45 |
|
Ban 1080 |
|
78 |
0.22 |
+0.22 |
|
Civilian |
|
16 |
0.04 |
+0.04 |
|
Democrats |
|
10 |
0.03 |
-0.01 |
|
Focus |
|
5 |
0.01 |
+0.01 |
|
Independent Coalition |
|
5 |
0.01 |
+0.01 |
Informal votes |
182 |
|
|
65 |
|
|
Total valid votes |
35,196 |
|
|
35,875 |
|
|
|
National hold |
Majority |
20,561 |
58.42 |
+4.54 |
|
Close
2011 election
More information 2011 general election, Notes: ...
2011 general election: Selwyn[17] |
Notes: |
Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
Party votes |
% |
±% |
|
National |
Y Amy Adams |
24,963 |
69.14 |
+8.65 |
23,086 |
62.65 |
+7.74 |
|
Labour |
Jo McLean |
5,512 |
15.27 |
-14.54 |
5,942 |
16.12 |
-9.49 |
|
Green |
Eugenie Sage |
3,674 |
10.18 |
+10.18 |
4,215 |
11.44 |
+3.91 |
|
NZ First |
Bill Woods |
1,277 |
3.54 |
+3.54 |
1,750 |
4.75 |
+1.71 |
|
Conservative |
Wilton Gray |
677 |
1.88 |
+1.88 |
906 |
2.46 |
+2.46 |
|
ACT |
|
336 |
0.91 |
-2.77 |
|
United Future |
|
256 |
0.69 |
-0.45 |
|
Māori Party |
|
137 |
0.37 |
-0.04 |
|
Legalise Cannabis |
|
123 |
0.33 |
+0.07 |
|
Mana |
|
52 |
0.14 |
+0.14 |
|
Alliance |
|
24 |
0.07 |
+0.02 |
|
Democrats |
|
13 |
0.04 |
+0.02 |
|
Libertarianz |
|
11 |
0.03 |
+0.01 |
Informal votes |
526 |
|
|
192 |
|
|
Total valid votes |
36,103 |
|
|
36,851 |
|
|
|
National hold |
Majority |
19,451 |
53.88 |
+23.20 |
|
Close
Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 46,937[18]
2008 election
More information 2008 general election, Notes: ...
2008 general election: Selwyn[19] |
Notes: |
Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
Party votes |
% |
±% |
|
National |
Amy Adams |
21,836 |
60.49 |
|
20,141 |
54.91 |
|
|
Labour |
David Coates |
10,761 |
29.81 |
|
9,395 |
25.61 |
|
|
Progressive |
Philippa Main |
1,316 |
3.65 |
|
672 |
1.83 |
|
|
Independent |
Bill Woods |
603 |
1.67 |
|
|
|
ACT |
Ivor Watson |
539 |
1.49 |
|
1,350 |
3.68 |
|
|
Family Party |
Samuel Dennis |
493 |
1.37 |
|
141 |
0.38 |
|
|
Kiwi |
Eleanor Williamson |
296 |
0.82 |
|
191 |
0.52 |
|
|
United Future |
Victoria Norman |
253 |
0.70 |
|
421 |
1.15 |
|
|
Green |
|
2,761 |
7.53 |
|
|
NZ First |
|
1,115 |
3.04 |
|
|
Bill and Ben |
|
201 |
0.55 |
|
|
Māori Party |
|
151 |
0.41 |
|
|
Legalise Cannabis |
|
97 |
0.26 |
|
|
Alliance |
|
17 |
0.05 |
|
|
Libertarianz |
|
8 |
0.02 |
|
|
Democrats |
|
7 |
0.02 |
|
|
Workers Party |
|
5 |
0.01 |
|
|
RAM |
|
3 |
0.01 |
|
|
Pacific |
|
2 |
0.01 |
|
|
RONZ |
|
1 |
0.00 |
|
Informal votes |
409 |
|
|
155 |
|
|
Total valid votes |
36,097 |
|
|
36,679 |
|
|
|
National win new seat |
Majority |
11,075 |
30.68 |
|
Close
1994 by-election
A by-election was held following the resignation of Ruth Richardson.[20]
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1993 election
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1990 election
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1987 election
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1984 election
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1981 election
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1978 election
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1966 election
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1963 election
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1960 election
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1957 election
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1954 election
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1951 election
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1949 election
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1946 election
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1899 election
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1896 election
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1890 election
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1884 by-election
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1883 by-election
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1875 election
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2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election
2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election
Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1993. pp. 98–9, 162.
Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1990. pp. 102–3, 167.
"The General Election, 1899". Wellington: Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives. 19 June 1900. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
"Untitled". The Press. Vol. LVI, no. 10516. 30 November 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
- McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.