It resulted in the governing Labour Party being re-elected in a landslide, winning nearly 56% of the vote despite not gaining any more seats.

Having replaced the United-Reform coalition, the newly founded National Party also gained a certain amount of ground.

However, Labour remained popular with the public, and the Prime Minister, Michael Joseph Savage, was widely praised for his welfare reform.

The leadership of the National Party, by contrast, was closely associated by the public with the Great Depression, and struggled to gain traction.

Independent candidates also lost ground, with only two being elected, Harry Atmore (Nelson) and Charles Wilkinson (Egmont).

But Robert Wright was defeated for the new electorate of Wellington West by Labour despite National not running a candidate against him.

Member of Parliament Eruera Tirikatene praised the secret ballot for the Māori as he regarded it as one of the rights promised in the Treaty of Waitangi.