Ruth Richardson National David Carter National The Selwyn by-election, a by-election in the New Zealand electorate of Selwyn – a predominantly rural district in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island – took place on 13 August 1994.

The previous sitting MP, Ruth Richardson, precipitated the poll by resigning from parliament.

Richardson planned to retire from politics, having been removed as Minister of Finance the previous year.

In second place, and only around four hundred votes behind Carter, came the Alliance's John Wright, in a result that surprised many[which?]

The fourth "major" candidate represented the New Zealand First party: Tim Shadbolt, then Mayor of Invercargill.