The by-election was held on 7 February 1942 after the death of Thomas David Burnett a National MP on 28 November 1942 during the parliamentary recess.

He had previously contested Hurunui as a Labour candidate before resigning from the party over government taxation policies.

The date for the by-election(s) was a problem because of the post-Christmas break and because of the arrangements required for voting by servicemen overseas.

Two by-elections were held on 7 February 1943 for Hauraki and Temuka where two independent candidates stood, but in Mid-Canterbury the widow of the sitting member was unopposed.

They were all National seats, and the Labour Party did not contest these wartime elections, but as independent candidates stood in two electorates, two by-elections were required.