Westland (New Zealand electorate)
Introduction '''Westland''' was a parliamentary electorate in the West Coast of New Zealand from 1866 to 1868 and 1890 to 1972.In 1972 the Tasman and West Coast electorates replaced the former Buller and Westland electorates.
Population centres In the 1865 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives focussed its review of electorates to South Island electorates only, as the Central Otago Gold Rush had caused significant population growth, and a redistribution of the existing population. Fifteen additional South Island electorates were created, including Westland, and the number of Members of Parliament was increased by 13 to 70.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, and Westland was one of eight electorates to be re-created for the 1890 election.
History The electorate was formed for the . William Sefton Moorhouse stood in the electorate and was returned 16 March 1866 in favour of William Shaw.The general election was held on 22 February 1866 in the Mount Herbert electorate, in which Moorhouse was returned unopposed. Having been elected in two electorates, Moorhouse chose to represent Westland. Moorhouse resigned on 20 February 1868.Joseph Grimmond, who had since 1887 represented the Hokitika electorate, contested the Westland electorate in the 1890 general election against Richard Seddon, with Seddon being successful. In the , Seddon was returned unopposed. In the , Seddon was again opposed by Grimmond but remained successful. Seddon held the electorate until his death in 1906.He was succeeded by his son Tom, who in turn represented the electorate until his defeat in the  by Labour's James O'Brien.===Members of Parliament===Jim Kent, Tom Seddon and Paddy BlanchfieldThe electorate was represented by seven Members of Parliament:'''Key''' '''Election''''''Winner'''  William Sefton Moorhouse(Electorate abolished 1868–1890, see , , , and )  Richard Seddon       Tom Seddon      James O'Brien  Tom Seddon (2nd period)  James O'Brien (2nd period)       Jim Kent      Paddy Blanchfield   (Electorate abolished in 1972, see  and )
Election results ===1969 election===       ===1966 election===       ===1963 election===       ===1960 election===       ===1957 election===       ===1954 election===       ===1951 election===     ===1949 election===      ===1947 by-election======1946 election======1931 election===     ===1928 election===     ===1925 election===      ===1922 election===        ===1919 election===      ===1906 by-election======1905 election===      ===1902 election===     ===1899 election=== ===1896 election===      ===1893 election=== ===1890 election===     ===1866 election===
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