Patea (New Zealand electorate)

Patea was a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate, located in the Taranaki region of the North Island. It existed for three distinct periods: from 1868 to 1881, from 1890 to 1978, and from 1984 to 1996. During its various incarnations, the electorate generally encompassed the area around the town of Patea, extending northwards along the coast.

The boundaries of the Patea electorate shifted considerably over the years, reflecting population changes and electoral redistributions. It often included portions of what are now the Rangitikei and Whanganui electorates.

Notable Members of Parliament who represented Patea include:

• Frederic Symes: Represented Patea from 1899 to 1908.
• Charles Wilkinson: Represented Patea from 1919 to 1928.
• William Blair Tennent: Represented Patea from 1938 to 1943.
• Peter Gordon: Represented Patea from 1960 to 1978.
• Tony Friedlander: Represented Patea from 1984 to 1993.
• Chester Borrows: Represented Patea from 1993 until its abolition in 1996. Borrows then successfully contested the new Whanganui electorate.

The Patea electorate was abolished in 1996 as part of the introduction of mixed-member proportional (MMP) representation in New Zealand. Its area was largely absorbed into the Rangitikei and Whanganui electorates.