Te Aro (New Zealand electorate)

Te Aro was a parliamentary electorate in New Zealand, returning one Member of Parliament to the House of Representatives. It existed from 1890 to 1905. It was located in the city of Wellington.

History and Boundaries:

The electorate was created for the 1890 general election. Its boundaries were primarily within the Te Aro district of Wellington City, which was a rapidly growing industrial and residential area at the time. It was abolished in 1905, with its area largely absorbed into the Wellington Central electorate. Boundary adjustments occurred during its existence to reflect population shifts within Wellington.

Members of Parliament:

The following members represented Te Aro:

• 1890-1893: John Duthie (Maritime Labour)
• 1893-1896: John Duthie (Conservative)
• 1896-1899: John Duthie (Conservative)
• 1899-1902: John Duthie (Conservative)
• 1902-1905: Francis Fisher (Liberal)

Political Landscape:

Te Aro was a politically diverse electorate, reflecting its mixed population of working-class residents, business owners, and professionals. The electorate saw competition between various political movements of the time, including labour interests, conservatives, and liberals. The lengthy tenure of John Duthie indicates a degree of conservative support, but the later election of Francis Fisher suggests a shift in political sentiment towards the Liberal party.