East Coast Bays by-election, 1980

East Coast Bays by-election, 1980

1978 general ← → 1981 general

Turnout 18,611   Candidate Gary Knapp Don Brash Party Social Credit National Popular vote 8,061 7,110 Percentage 43.31% 38.20%   Candidate Wyn Hoadley J S Moore Party Labour Values Popular vote 3,296 144 Percentage 17.71% 0.77%

Member before election Frank Gill National Elected Member Gary Knapp Social Credit

The East Coast Bays by-election of 1980 was a by-election during the 39th New Zealand Parliament in the East Coast Bays electorate. It was prompted by the resignation of Frank Gill, a National Party MP, to take up a position as New Zealand's ambassador to the United States. It resulted in the election of Gary Knapp, the candidate of the Social Credit Party. This result was unexpected, as minor parties rarely won seats in Parliament at the time (although such voting is more likely in a by-election). Knapp held the seat until the 1987 general election, when he was defeated by National's Murray McCully.

East Coast Bays by-election, 1980
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Social Credit	Gary KnappY	8,061	43.31%
	National	Don Brash	7,110	38.20%
	Labour	Wyn Hoadley	3,296	17.71%
	Values	J S Moore	144	0.77%
Majority			951	5.11%
Turnout			18,611
	Social Credit gain from National		Swing	Unknown