1902 New Zealand general election

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All 80 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives 41 seats were needed for a majority
Turnout	76.7%
First party Second party   Leader Richard Seddon William Massey Party Liberal Conservative Leader since 28 April 1893 3 July 1901[nb 1] Leader's seat Westland Franklin Last election 49 seats 19 seats Seats won 47 19 Seat change 2 Popular vote 215,378 85,652 Percentage 51.8 20.6 Swing 1.9 16.0
Prime Minister before election Richard Seddon Liberal Prime Minister-designate Richard Seddon Liberal

The New Zealand general election of 1902 was held on Tuesday, 25 November, in the general electorates, and on Monday, 22 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 15th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 415,789 (76.7%) voters turned out to vote.^[2]

The Rev Frank Isitt was nominated as the Prohibitionist candidate for ten separate electorates, and came second in eight. Another candidate, David Whyte, was nominated for two. Both men stood to ensure that a local liquor licensing poll was held in each electorate for which they were nominated.

1902 electoral redistribution

The Representation Act 1900 had increased the membership of the House of Representatives from general electorates 70 to 76, and this was implemented through the 1902 electoral redistribution. In 1902, changes to the country quota affected the three-member electorates in the four main centres. The tolerance between electorates was increased to ±1,250 so that the Representation Commissions (since 1896, there had been separate commissions for the North and South Islands) could take greater account of communities of interest. These changes proved very disruptive to existing boundaries.^[3] Six electorates were established for the first time: Courtenay, Newtown, Grey Lynn , Hurunui, Oroua, and Kaipara. Two electorates that previously existed were re-established: Mount Ida and Hutt.^[4]

This boundary redistribution resulted in the abolition of three electorates:^[4]

• Ashley, held by Richard Meredith
• Suburbs of Wellington, held by Thomas Wilford
• Waihemo, held by Thomas Mackenzie

Results

Frank Isitt, a Methodist minister, stood in ten seats as a Prohibition candidate, and came second in eight.

Party totals

The following table gives party strengths and vote distribution according to Wilson (1985), who records Maori representatives as Independents prior to the 1905 election.^[5]

Votes summary

Electorate results

The following are the results of the 1902 general election:

Key

  Liberal     Conservative     Independent Liberal     Liberal–Labour   Independent  

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Copyright

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