Redrawing Of Boundaries Called Radical (Press, 18 January 1977)

On 18 January 1977, the Representation Commission announced significant boundary changes for New Zealand's general electorates, leading to a political landscape that has been described by party leaders as "radical," "staggering," and "unprecedented." As a result, more than a third of the new electorates have been classified as marginal. The changes include the creation of five new electorates in the North Island and the disappearance of several traditional electorates, leaving a total of 30 electorates, many of which have new names. Wellington, despite not gaining new electorates, has experienced a shift in its political nomenclature, with well-known electorates like Karori, Hutt, and Petone being replaced by Ohariu, Taita, and Pencarrow. The Labour MP for Hutt, T. J. Young, expressed concern about the loss of his electorate, particularly since Hutt had been historically held by Sir Walter Nash. However, he feels confident about competing in the new Taita electorate, which is expected to lean Labour. In contrast, the president of the National Party, G. A. Chapman, sees room for improvement in how the changes were enacted but has no immediate plans to appeal the decision. He emphasised the need for thorough restructuring of the party's organisational approach to align with the new boundaries. Chapman noted that the selection of national candidates would follow a similar timeline as in previous elections, spanning from September 1977 to June 1978, with a strategic focus on campaigning throughout 1977 and 1978. The alterations in the South Island have also raised concerns, even though the total number of electorates remains at 25. Chapman pointed out the challenge presented by the increasing size of rural electorates, especially in the South Island, which could pose difficulties in service delivery. Specifically, he highlighted the new Otago electorate as the largest in the country, advocating for a more balanced mix of urban and rural representation. The political dynamics are expected to shift significantly as many local identities are lost, with the potential for 30 or more marginal seats resulting from the altered voting patterns. The new boundaries are set to apply for the upcoming 1978 and 1981 General Elections, before another change occurs before the 1984 elections. Miss Marilyn Waring, New Zealand's youngest MP, has found herself in a challenging position due to the boundary adjustments. Her rural Raglan seat has been eliminated, leaving her to compete for the new Waipa seat, which incorporates areas from her previous electorate. Compounding her difficulties, Waring is losing crucial support from her former Raglan electorate executive, with only one member remaining within the new Waipa boundaries. Overall, the revelation of these changes has resulted in a sense of confusion and concern among political members and communities across New Zealand.

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