The by-election was caused by the death of incumbent MP Peter Fraser, who had been prime minister until the 1949 general election, on 17 December 1950 after a long illness.

[2] The Communist Party (CPNZ) initially offered not to contest the by-election, approaching the Labour Party to withdraw in their favour on condition that Labour adopt several CPNZ policy platforms, notably an immediate withdrawal of New Zealand troops from the Korean War.

The Labour Party selected its president, former cabinet minister Arnold Nordmeyer, who had lost his seat of Oamaru in 1949.

[10] National's vote fell causing party officials concern over many urban seats which had been won in 1949 only by low majorities.

Deputy Prime Minister Keith Holyoake denied that the government's popularity had been impaired and stated that Labour had not offered any worthy suggestions on how the problems of the day could be handled.