When the 1928 elections left United and Reform with an equal number of seats, United managed to obtain support from the growing Labour Party, but in 1931, the worsening depression prompted a dispute over economic policy, and Labour withdrew its backing.

Reform then agreed to go into coalition with United, fearing that an election would lead to significant gains for the "socialistic" Labour.

[2] On Sunday 24 November, shortly before the election, an address by Colin Scrimgeour ("Uncle Scrim") on the Friendly Road radio station, which was expected to urge listeners to vote Labour, was jammed by the Post Office.

Labour was more fortunate than its British namesake in not attaining office before the depression (thanks to Seddon's lengthy reign) "and so could hold the conservative coalition responsible if natural laws of economics behaved unnaturally".

[11] Apart from Labour and the coalition, the only two groups to win places in Parliament were the Country Party and the Ratana movement, both of which won two seats.

Four independents were elected, Harry Atmore, David McDougall, Charles Wilkinson and Robert Wright.

[15][16] The following table shows the detailed results: Key Labour Independent United Reform United/Reform Democrat Ratana Country Party Table footnotes: A number of local by-elections were required due to the resignations of incumbent local body politicians following the general election: