Labour wins, and ‘that’s democracy’

Lawrence Gullery reviews the results of the 1984 general election, for the Matamata electorate, for our series, Back In The Day.

National Party’s incumbent MP Jack Luxton’s re-election on July 14, 1984, came with celebration mixed with disappointment.

The long-standing politician, who had been in public office since 1966 representing the then Matamata electorate, was coming to terms with being an opposition MP under the newly-elected David Lange Labour Party Government.

In an interview with the Matamata Chronicle, published two days after the election, Luxton said he was grateful to everyone who had supported him but disappointed with the overall result of the general election.

Lange had defeated long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party.

‘‘But that’s democracy. We can only hope Mr Lange will be able to get the co-operation from all sectors that he will need,’’ Luxton said in the story.

‘‘I think this electorate is very aware of the international scene and the people are better informed of the steps taken by us (National Government) to overcome the problems we had to face because of the international scene.’’

Luxton said as a member of the opposition he would be available as always, for constituents, no matter which way they voted, if they had problems he could take up on their behalf.

The election was held under the previous first past the post voting system. Mixed member proportional voting wasn’t introduced until a decade later.

The Chronicle reported that it ‘‘was no surprise’’ that Luxton was returned for another three year term.

But the story also said: ‘‘The surprise was the gain made by the Labour Party in a traditionally ‘true blue’ National electorate.’’

The gains were made at the expense of the Social Credit Party and to some extend, at the expense of the New Zealand Party.

Luxton was returned in 1984 with a majority of 5311 compared with a 1981 majority of 3238 over the 1981 Social Credit Party candidate, Roger Mawdsley.

Luxton had the second highest election night majority among National candidates. The highest majority, 5674, was achieved by Mr R.Maxwell.

The Chronicle story also said the Labour Party candidate for the 1984 election, Ross Clow, was ‘‘delighted and somewhat surprised’’ to have come second with an election night poll of 3393.

Clow said it was the ‘‘Labour Party machine’’ which won the election and the machine would aim to push the party vote in the Matamata electorate up to 5000 at the 1987 election.

The election was also interesting because it involved The New Zealand Party, founded by property tycoon Bob Jones and set up to oppose the Muldoon government, although it did not support Labour either.

‘‘Luxton had the second highest election night majority among National candidates. The highest majority, 5674, was achieved by Mr R.Maxwell.’’

While voters did not favour the party in the Matamata electorate, its candidate for the seat, John Galvin, who achieved 2797 votes, said he was pleased with the party’s showing of 12 per cent of the overall vote.

Under MMP, that would have guaranteed the New Zealand Party MPs in parliament.

The 1984 election was called when Marilyn Waring told Muldoon that she would not support his government in the vote over an oppositionsponsored anti-nuclear bill.

Muldoon went on to announce a snap election on national television.

There were 2,111,651 registered voters. Turnout was 93.7 per cent, the highest turnout ever recorded in a New Zealand election.

Most political commentators attributed the high turnout to a desire by voters for change.

Labour Party won 56 of the 95 seats in parliament, a gain of 13.