1998 Taranaki-King Country by-election

The Taranaki-King Country by-election was a by-election in the New Zealand electorate of Taranaki-King Country, a large and predominantly rural district in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It took place on 2 May 1998, and was precipitated by the resignation from parliament of sitting MP Jim Bolger. Bolger was retiring from politics, having recently been replaced as Prime Minister by Jenny Shipley.

Taranaki-King Country by-election, 1998

2 May 1998
Turnout	20,684[1]
Candidate Shane Ardern Owen Jennings Party National ACT Popular vote 5,953 4,965 Percentage 29.43% 24.55%   Candidate Max Purnell Kevin Campbell Party Labour Alliance Popular vote 3,546 3,208 Percentage 17.53% 15.46%
Member before election Jim Bolger National Elected Member Shane Ardern National

The by-election was contested by all major parties. It was won by Shane Ardern, a member of Bolger's National Party, although Ardern gained a majority of only 988 votes.[1] (In the 1996 general election Bolger had a majority of 10,223, or 37.37% in this seat.) Surprisingly, second place was won by Owen Jennings of the ACT party, a small party that promotes economic deregulation and other laissez-faire economic policies. The Labour Party, National's traditional opponent, was pushed back into third place. The Alliance, a left-wing party, gained fourth place. Some distance behind these four were Christian Heritage, New Zealand First, and the Greens, all with similar numbers of votes. They were followed by a group of minor parties and independents.

Results

The following table gives the election results:

1998 Taranaki-King Country by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Shane Ardern	5,953	29.43
	ACT	Owen Jennings	4,965	24.55
	Labour	Max Purnell	3,546	17.53
	Alliance	Kevin Campbell	3,208	15.46
	Christian Heritage	Ewen McQueen	561	2.77
	NZ First	Robin Ord	560	2.77
	Green	Cindy McDonald	503	2.49
	Legalise Cannabis	Michael Appleby	393	1.94
	United NZ	Pauline Gardiner	127	0.63
	Independent	Doug Wilson	127	0.63
	McGillicuddy Serious	Paul Cooke	76	0.38
	Independent	Brett Power	56	0.28
	Animals First	Alistair McKellow	49	0.24
	Independent	Greg Walker	32	0.16
	Social Credit	Avon James Harris	17	0.08
	Natural Law	Tony Martin	17	0.08
	Independent	Victor Bryers	15	0.07
	Youth Independence	Robert Terry	10	0.05
	Mana Wahine	Mary Gilmore	7	0.03
	Progressive Party	Ralph Dell	3	0.01
Majority			984	4.87
Turnout			20,225
	National hold		Swing	-32.51

References

1. "1998 Taranaki-King Country By-election – 2 May 1998". Chief Electoral Office. Retrieved 19 July 2009.