Hamilton East (New Zealand electorate)

Hamilton East is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.

It is currently held by David Bennett MP [ [http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/9/7/0/48MP127241-Bennett-David.htm New Zealand Parliament - David Bennett MP] ] of the National Party.

Population Centres

The electorate is mainly urban, and covers the eastern part of the city of Hamilton.

History

The earlier Hamilton electorate dates from 1922. In 1969 it was renamed Hamilton West. In 1972 the additional electorate of Hamilton East was created.

Every party since 1972 that has won Hamilton East and its sister seat of Hamilton West has gone on to form the government, earning these seats a reputation as bellwether seats; although this trend has been reversed since 1993, when Labour captured both Hamilton seats from National, but failed to win a parliamentary majority.

Dianne Yates, who has represented the city in Parliament, as the constituency member for Hamilton East from 1993-96 and again from 2002-05 (and other times as a list MP) has announced her decision to retire from Parliament before the 2008 election [cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/4157397a6579.html|title=Waikato Times - City MP quits for shot at council|accessdate=2007-08-13] . In doing so, she will be the first Hamilton-based MP to choose the date of their departure in over thirty years (The earlier MP was Sir Leslie Munro, who resigned from Hamilton West in 1972).

Members of Parliament for Hamilton East

Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

sourced from [http://2005.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-15.html electionresults.govt.nz]

References

External links

* [http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/00F6DCBA-E00A-4F7E-AA8D-FBE8E1D82F95/118/Hamilton_East1.pdf Electorate Profile] "Parliamentary Library"