Robert McNab Liberal Sir John Findlay Liberal The 1917 Hawkes Bay by-election was a by-election held in the eastern North Island electorate of Hawkes Bay during the 19th New Zealand Parliament, on 8 March 1917.

Under the terms of the coalition agreement between Reform and the Liberals a condition was made not to oppose each other in by-elections for deceased or retiring MPs from their own parties.

Sir John Findlay was chosen by the Liberal Party to contest the seat, he was a former Legislative Councillor and served in Sir Joseph Ward's cabinet from 1906 to 1911 as Attorney-General and later as Minister of Justice.

[3] Former Napier MP Alfred Fraser previously sought the Liberal nomination, however he retired from the contest,[2] yet 9 votes were still cast for him.

H. Ian Simson also stood in support of the National Government and was Findlay's only real competition for the seat.