History

Fact: Nelson is the only electorate to have retained the same name since the 1850's

Historical Statistics

Year
% National
% Labour
MP
Majority
1938
46.1%
53.9%
Harry Atmore (Ind)
886
1943
48.9%
50.5%
Harry Atmore (Ind)
191
1946
52.1%
47.9%
Edgar Neale (Nat)
585
1949
54.4%
45.6%
Edgar Neale (Nat)
1,373
1951
58.8%
41.2%
Edgar Neale (Nat)
2,831
1954
45.7%
41.0%
Edgar Neale (Nat)
717
1957
44.8%
48.0%
Stan Whitehead (Lab)
509
1960
40.9%
51.7%
Stan Whitehead (Lab)
1,767
1963
37.2%
53.4%
Stan Whitehead (Lab)
2,610
1966
34.2%
46.4%
Stan Whitehead (Lab)
2,045
1969
39.9%
47.6%
Stan Whitehead (Lab)
1,248
1972
38.2%
50.0%
Stan Whitehead (Lab)
1,933
1975
41.1%
47.0%
Stan Whitehead (Lab)
1,093
1976
39.7%
48.4%
Mel Courtney (Lab)
1,505
1978
38.7%
50.5%
Mel Courtney (Lab)
2,237
1981
13.5%
40.4%
Philip Woollaston (Lab)
698
1984
12.8%
47.7%
Philip Woollaston (Lab)
3,678
1987
31.5%
57.9%
Philip Woollaston (Lab)
5,467
1990
41.1%
44.2%
John Blincoe (Lab)
636
1993
30.8%
39.9%
John Blincoe (Lab)
2,007
1996
Nick - 59.2%
National - 30.8%
Candidate - 23.3%
Labour - 31.8%
Nick Smith (Nat)
12,424
1999
Nick - 44.8%
National - 27.0%
Candidate - 31.8%
Labour - 40.6%
Nick Smith (Nat)
4,521
2002
Nick - 46.8%
National - 19.2%
Candidate - 34.2%
Labour - 44.7%
Nick Smith (Nat)
4,232
 2005

 Nick - 54.9%
National - 36.8%

 Candidate - 27.2%
Labour - 42.8%

 Nick Smith (Nat)

 10,226

 2008

 Nick - 56.3%
National - 42.3%

Candidate - 33.0%
Labour -37.7%

 Nick Smith (Nat)
 8,471