Clutha-Southland was a parliamentary constituency returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The last MP for Clutha Southland was Hamish Walker of the National Party. He held the seat for one term, being elected at the 2017 general election and representing the electorate until the 2020 general election where he retired from Parliament, and the seat was replaced with the Southland electorate.

Clutha-Southland electorate boundaries used since the 2008 election

Population centres

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Clutha-Southland was promulgated as one of the original 65 MMP electorates, centred on Southland district and covering an area stretching from Fiordland across the far south of the South Island to the south Otago coast. Its largest population centres were Gore and Balclutha. In 2008, the seat of Otago was abolished and split between the Waitaki and Clutha-Southland electorates, and parts of Central Otago, primarily around Arrowtown, Queenstown and Roxburgh were also transferred to Clutha-Southland.

Clutha-Southland was the successor to the old Wallace, Clutha and Awarua constituencies. Its boundaries had changed at all three redistributions undertaken since its creation, as dwindling populations in both the old Clutha-Southland electorate and in the neighbouring Invercargill electorate have forced both seats northwards to ensure every electorate population stays within certain limits. This trend stopped in the 2013 redistribution, however, with both the Clutha-Southland and Invercargill electorates remaining unchanged in area,[1] and then reversed in the 2020 redistribution, with the electorate gaining a large area around Alexandra from Waitaki, but losing the Balclutha area to the new Taieri electorate and Tuatapere to Invercargill.[2] It was renamed Southland as it no longer included the Clutha area.

History

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Because of its largely rural nature, Clutha-Southland was one of the National Party's safest seats. Bill English, who is the former Prime Minister, held the seat from 1996 to 2014. English announced in January 2014 that he would retire as the electorate MP at the 2014 general election, becoming a list MP only.[3][4]

Todd Barclay won the 2014 election by a significant margin over Labour's Liz Craig,[5] obtaining nearly 64% of the candidate votes.[6] Barclay became at that time the youngest MP in the House of Representatives.[7] In 2017, he announced he would not stand for re-election at the 2017 election, after revealing he had secretly recorded staff in his office without their consent.[8] The seat was won at the election by Hamish Walker, retaining it for the National Party.[9] Similarly, in 2020, Walker admitted leaking sensitive private patient details about COVID-19 patients,[10][11][12] and subsequently announced that he would not stand for re-election during the 2020 New Zealand general election.[13]

In April 2020, the Electoral Commission announced that Clutha-Southland would have its borders substantially changed and that it would be renamed to the Southland electorate. As part of the changes, the Alexandra and the Clyde area would be transferred from Waitaki to Southland while South Otago was transferred to the newly created Taieri electorate. The Invercargill electorate also expanded into western Southland.[14][15]

Members of Parliament for Clutha-Southland

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The electorate has been represented by three members of parliament so far.

Key   National   NZ First

Election Winner
1996 election Bill English
1999 election
2002 election
2005 election
2008 election
2011 election
2014 election Todd Barclay
2017 election Hamish Walker
(Electorate abolished in 2020; see Southland)

List MPs

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Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Election Winner
2005 Lesley Soper[a]
2017 election Mark Patterson

Election results

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2017 election

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2017 general election: Clutha-Southland[16]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A  Y or  N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Hamish Walker 21,819 59.89 -4.18 21,915 59.26 -4.12
Labour Cherie Chapman 7,465 20.49 +0.66 8,960 24.22 +9.51
NZ First Mark Patterson 3,485 9.57 2,900 7.84 +1.60
Green Rachael Goldsmith 2,650 7.27 +0.15 1,654 4.47 -3.26
Ban 1080 Brian Adams 674 1.85 -0.87 144 0.39 -0.39
Independent Joe Stringer 200 0.55
Conservative Lachie Ashton 141 0.39 -3.78 75 0.20 -4.84
Opportunities   894 2.42
ACT   141 0.38 +0.02
Legalise Cannabis   118 0.32 -0.22
Māori Party   95 0.26 -0.07
United Future   29 0.07 -0.13
Outdoors   26 0.07
People's Party   13 0.04
Democrats   10 0.03 -0.08
Internet   5 0.01 -0.45[b]
Mana Party   4 0.01 -0.45[c]
Informal votes 359 171
Total valid votes 36,434 36,983
Turnout 37,154
National hold Majority 14,354 39.40 -4.83

2014 election

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2014 general election: Clutha-Southland[17]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A  Y or  N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Todd Barclay 21,561 64.06 -4.76 21,694 63.37 +0.48
Labour Liz Craig 6,675 19.83 +3.06 5,036 14.71 -1.50
Green Rachael Goldsmith 2,398 7.13 -1.35 2,647 7.73 -0.91
Conservative Lachie Ashton 1,403 4.17 +1.63 1,726 5.04 +1.93
Ban 1080 James Veint 915 2.71 268 0.78
ACT Don Nicolson 447 1.33 -1.23 122 0.36 -1.48
Independent Coalition Karl Barkley 168 0.50 32 0.09
Democrats Jason Jobsis 88 0.26 -0.15 36 0.11 -0.13
NZ First   2,135 6.23 +1.35
Legalise Cannabis   184 0.54 -0.12
Internet Mana   158 0.46 +0.31[d]
Māori Party   113 0.33 -0.10
United Future   68 0.20 -0.61
Civilian   10 0.03
Focus   0 0.00
Informal votes 370 107
Total valid votes 34,025 34,336
Turnout 34,443 78.51 +4.68
National hold Majority 14,886 44.23 −7.83

2011 election

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2011 general election: Clutha-Southland[18]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A  Y or  N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National  Y Bill English 21,375 68.83 +0.96 20,020 62.89 +3.03
Labour Tat Loo 5,207 16.77 -4.69 5,160 16.21 -7.73
Green Rachael Goldsmith 2,633 8.48 +1.57 2,751 8.64 +3.54
ACT Don Nicolson 796 2.56 +0.79 583 1.83 -2.06
Conservative Ross Calverley 787 2.53 +2.53 992 3.12 +3.12
Sovereignty Party Tony Corbett 130 0.42 +0.42
Democrats Robert Mills 128 0.41 +0.41 75 0.24 +0.18
NZ First   1,556 4.89 +2.02
United Future   259 0.81 +0.06
Legalise Cannabis   210 0.66 +0.27
Māori Party   136 0.43 +0.01
Mana   48 0.15 +0.15
Libertarianz   24 0.08 +0.03
Alliance   17 0.05 -0.13
Informal votes 810 209
Total valid votes 31,056 31,831
National hold Majority 16,168 52.06 +5.65

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 43,395[19]

2008 election

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2008 general election: Clutha-Southland[20]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A  Y or  N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National  Y Bill English 22,631 67.87 +1.39 20,235 59.87 +2.73
Labour Don Pryde 7,156 21.46 -1.74 8,091 23.94 -4.76
Green Tim Gow 2,304 6.91 +4.23 1,726 5.11 +2.74
ACT Roly Henderson 590 1.77 +0.18 1,315 3.89 +1.98
Family Party Paul Tankard 515 1.54 +1.54 193 0.57 +0.57
Alliance Marvin Hubbard 149 0.45 +0.45 63 0.19 +0.11
NZ First   968 2.86 -1.70
Bill and Ben   259 0.77 +0.77
United Future   254 0.75 -2.64
Progressive   226 0.67 -0.09
Māori Party   141 0.42 -0.21
Legalise Cannabis   131 0.39 +0.13
Kiwi   131 0.39 +0.39
Democrats   18 0.05 -0.03
Workers Party   18 0.05 +0.05
Libertarianz   16 0.05 -0.02
Pacific   8 0.02 +0.02
RAM   4 0.01 +0.01
RONZ   2 0.01 -0.004
Informal votes 354 142
Total valid votes 33,345 33,799
National hold Majority 15,475 46.41 +3.14

2005 election

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2005 general election: Clutha-Southland
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A  Y or  N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National  Y Bill English 20,020 66.48 +10.83 17,334 57.14 +16.45
Labour David Talbot 6,988 23.20 8,705 28.70 -8.62
NZ First Dave Mackie 999 3.32 -0.33 1,386 4.57 -2.20
Green Robert Guyton 808 2.68 719 2.37 -1.08
United Future Joy Lietze 701 2.33 -0.23 1,028 3.39 -3.21
ACT John Fraser 479 1.59 579 1.91 -3.20
Independent David Webber 121 0.40 +0.15
Progressive   230 0.76 -0.26
Destiny   99 0.33
Legalise Cannabis   79 0.26 -0.24
Māori Party   63 0.21
Democrats   26 0.09
Christian Heritage   24 0.08 -1.07
Alliance   23 0.08 -0.69
99 MP   13 0.04
Family Rights   9 0.03
Libertarianz   7 0.02
One NZ   6 0.02 -0.02
RONZ   3 0.01
Direct Democracy   2 0.01
Informal votes 211 150
Total valid votes 30,116 30,335
National hold Majority 13,032 43.28 +19.84

2002 election

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2002 general election: Clutha-Southland
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A  Y or  N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National  Y Bill English 16,159 55.65 +4.43 11,881 40.69 -1.36
Labour Lesley Soper 9,351 32.21 +1.98 9,290 31.82 +1.85
NZ First Dave Mackie 1,059 3.65 -0.06 1,977 6.77 +3.37
United Future Joy Lietze 742 2.56 1,928 6.60
Green Dayle Belcher 605 2.08 1,006 3.45 +0.40
ACT Roly Henderson 396 1.36 1,491 5.11 -2.27
Christian Heritage Grant Bradfield 365 1.26 -2.37 335 1.15 -2.53
Progressive Roger White* 168 0.58 -2.86 299 1.02
Alliance Jim Flynn 117 0.40 224 0.77 -5.38
Independent David Webber 73 0.25 -0.08
ORNZ   602 2.06
Legalise Cannabis   147 0.50 -0.46
One NZ   13 0.04 -0.01
Mana Māori   2 0.01 -0.01
NMP   1 0.00 0.00
Informal votes 185 166
Total valid votes 29,035 29,196
National hold Majority 6,808 23.44 +2.45

*Percentage change calculation based on percent as Alliance candidate in 1999 election.

1999 election

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1999 general election: Clutha-Southland[21][22]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A  Y or  N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National  Y Bill English 15,619 51.22 +4.13 12,882 42.05 -0.69
Labour Lesley Soper 9,218 30.23 +11.98 9,182 29.97 +10.72
NZ First Dave Mackie 1,131 3.71 1,043 3.40 -11.57
Christian Heritage Grant Bradfield 1,108 3.63 1,128 3.68
Alliance Roger White 1,049 3.44 1,883 6.15 -1.30
ACT John Morrison 945 3.10 2,260 7.38 +1.34
Green Tim Gow 854 2.80 935 3.05
South Island Pat McCarrigan 469 1.54 421 1.37
Independent David Webber 102 0.33
Legalise Cannabis   293 0.96 -0.28
Christian Democrats   243 0.79
United NZ   112 0.37 -0.21
Libertarianz   87 0.28 +0.25
McGillicuddy Serious   65 0.21 -0.21
Animals First   57 0.19 +0.07
One NZ   15 0.05
Natural Law   8 0.03 -0.05
Mauri Pacific   6 0.02
Mana Māori   5 0.02 +0.01
The People's Choice   5 0.02
Freedom Movement   4 0.01
Republican   3 0.01
NMP   0 0.00
Informal votes 481 339
Total valid votes 30,495 30,637
National hold Majority 6,401 20.99 -7.85

1996 election

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1996 general election: Clutha-Southland[23][24][25]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A  Y or  N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Bill English 14,764 47.09 13,449 42.74
Labour Lesley Soper 5,721 18.25 6,058 19.25
NZ First Alan Wise 5,075 16.19 4,709 14.97
Alliance Tracey Hicks 2,326 7.42 2,345 7.45
ACT Peter Snow 2,049 6.54 1,901 6.04
Christian Coalition Russell Zwies 1,060 3.38 2,147 6.82
McGillicuddy Serious Robyn West 306 0.98 133 0.42
Natural Law Gilbert Urquhart 50 0.16 24 0.08
Legalise Cannabis   390 1.24
United NZ   181 0.58
Animals First   37 0.12
Progressive Green   33 0.10
Green Society 15 0.05
Conservatives 14 0.04
Superannuitants & Youth 11 0.03
Libertarianz   10 0.03
Advance New Zealand 2 0.01
Asia Pacific United 2 0.01
Ethnic Minority Party 2 0.01
Mana Māori   2 0.01
Te Tawharau 0 0.00
Informal votes 202 88
Total valid votes 31,351 31,465
National win new seat Majority 9,043 28.84

Table footnotes

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  1. ^ Soper entered Parliament on 4 April 2005 following Jonathan Hunt's resignation.
  2. ^ 2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election
  3. ^ 2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election
  4. ^ 2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for Mana in 2011; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.

References

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  1. ^ Report of the Representation Commission 2014 (PDF). Representation Commission. 4 April 2014. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-477-10414-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Report of the Representation Commission 2020" (PDF). 17 April 2020.
  3. ^ Bennett, Adam (1 November 2013). "English to give up Clutha-Southland seat". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Life after Bill". The Southland Times. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Election 2014: Southland decides". The Southland Times. 20 September 2014. Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  6. ^ Hayes, Lauren; Railton, Bridget; Jamieson, Debbie (20 September 2014). "Landslide win for Barclay". The Southland Times. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  7. ^ Rutherford, Hamish (29 April 2014). "Who is National's Todd Barclay?". Stuff. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Todd Barclay tapes contained 'sex and drugs' matters – report". Newshub. 27 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Clutha-Southland – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  10. ^ Houlahan, Mike (8 July 2020). "Walker's future in doubt". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. ^ Cooke, Henry (7 July 2020). "National MP Hamish Walker admits passing on leaked Covid-19 patient info from former party president Michelle Boag". Stuff. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. ^ Cheng, Derek (7 July 2020). "National MP Hamish Walker, former party president Michelle Boag admit leaking Covid patients' details". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Covid-19 privacy leak: MP Hamish Walker announces he won't stand for re-election". Radio New Zealand. 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  14. ^ Whyte, Anna (17 April 2020). "New electorate revealed, as raft of boundary changes announced prior to election 2020". 1 News. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Boundary Review 2019/20 | Elections". elections.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  16. ^ New Zealand Electoral Commission. "Clutha-Southland – Official Result (2017)". Electionresults.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  17. ^ New Zealand Electoral Commission (10 October 2014). "Clutha-Southland – Official Result (2014)". Electionresults.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  18. ^ New Zealand Electoral Commission (10 December 2011). "Clutha-Southland – Official Result (2011)". Electionresults.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Enrolment statistics". Electoral Commission. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  20. ^ Official Count Results – Clutha-Southland Archived 10 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 2008 General Election. Chief Electoral Office, Wellington. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  21. ^ "Official Count Results (1999) – Electoral Votes for registered parties by electorate". NZ Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Official Count Results (1999) – Candidate Vote Details". NZ Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  23. ^ "Electorate Candidate and Party Votes Recorded at Each Polling Place – Clutha-Southland, 1996" (PDF). Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Part III – Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  25. ^ "Part III – Party Lists of unsuccessful Registered Parties" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.

45°38′00″S 167°55′00″E / 45.6333°S 167.9167°E / -45.6333; 167.9167