Patea (electorate)

In the 1892 electoral redistribution, the population shift to the North Island required the transfer of one seat from the South Island to the north. The resulting ripple effect saw every electorate established in 1890 have its boundaries altered, and eight electorates were established for the first time, including Patea.^[1]

The electorate was based in the town of Pātea, which used to have freezing-works for the preparation of meat for export until 1982.

This rural seat was first established for the 1893 election.^[2] George Hutchison was the first elected representative. He resigned in June 1901.^[3] Frederick Haselden won the 1 August 1901 by-election, but the seat was declared vacant^[4] in the following year.^[5] Walter Symes then held the electorate, from 1902 to the dissolution of Parliament in 1908.^[6]

The 1908 election was won by George Pearce. He held the electorate for three terms, until the dissolution of Parliament in 1919.^[7] He was succeeded by Walter Powdrell from 1919, who died partway through the term on 9 March 1921.^[8] Edwin Dixon won the 1921 by-election and held the electorate for the remainder of the term until 1922.^[9] James Randall Corrigan succeeded Dixon in 1922 and he held the electorate for one term until 1925.^[10] He was followed by Harold Dickie from 1925 to 1943.^[2]

William Sheat won the 1943 election plus the three subsequent elections. In 1954, Sheat failed to gain reselection after boundary changes as a National Party candidate. On 14 May of that year, he promptly resigned his seat and won it back in the 31 July 1954 by-election as an Independent, but subsequently did not stand in the 1954 general election.

The candidate chosen instead of Sheat, Roy Jack, was successful in 1954. He held the electorate until 1963, when it was abolished and replaced by the Waimarino electorate.