The by-election was held on 13 April 1921, and was precipitated by the resignation of sitting Reform member of parliament, Walter Powdrell.
The Reform Party chose Edwin Dixon, the Mayor of Hawera, as their official candidate, and apparently Clutha Mackenzie was their second preference.
Earlier, Thomas William McDonald announced his intention to stand for the Reform Party.
[1][2] Labour candidate Lew McIlvride polled a small vote compared to Dixon and Morrison.
However, he was the only one of the three candidates who increased the vote for his party compared with 1919 and was rewarded with contesting a winnable seat in 1922 in Napier, which he won.