Through an amendment in the Electoral Act in 1965, the number of electorates in the South Island was fixed at 25, an increase of one since the 1962 electoral redistribution.^[1] It was accepted that through the more rapid population growth in the North Island, the number of its electorates would continue to increase, and to keep proportionality, three new electorates were allowed for in the 1967 electoral redistribution for the next election.^[2] In the North Island, five electorates were newly created and one electorate was reconstituted while three electorates were abolished.^[3] In the South Island, three electorates were newly created (including Papanui) and one electorate was reconstituted while three electorates were abolished.^[4] The overall effect of the required changes was highly disruptive to existing electorates, with all but three electorates having their boundaries altered.^[5] These changes came into effect with the 1969 election.^[2]

Most of the area covered by the Papanui electorate had previously been with the Fendalton electorate, but a smaller portion was previously with St Albans.^[6] In 1969, the electorate extended from Harewood in the west to Little Hagley Park in the south-east.^[7] In the 1972 electoral redistribution, the electorate's area slightly reduced.^[8] In the 1972 electoral redistribution, the electorate moved significantly to the north up to the Waimakariri River, incorporating Belfast into its area, which had previously belonged to Rangiora.^[9] Papanui was abolished through the 1983 electoral redistribution, with Christchurch North taking up most of its area; the abolition came into effect with the 1984 election.^[10]

Bert Walker had since the 1960 election been the representative of the St Albans electorate for the National Party. When the Papanui electorate was formed in 1969, he transferred to there.^[11] After three parliamentary terms for Papanui, he was defeated by Labour's Mike Moore.^[12] With the abolition of the Papanui electorate in 1984, Moore transferred to the Christchurch North electorate and briefly became Prime Minister while representing that electorate.^[13]

Members of Parliament edit

The electorate was represented by two members of parliament.^[14]

Key

  National   Labour

1981 election edit

1978 election edit

1975 election edit

1972 election edit

1969 election edit

• McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
• Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.