It was thus one of the original 24 electoral districts, and New Zealand's first ever MP was elected, although unopposed, in the Bay of Islands; Hugh Carleton thus liked to be called the Father of the House.
In 1929, Harold Rushworth, a Country Party member, had his 1928 election declared void, but he won the subsequent by-election.
[5] The 1890 election was contested by Robert Houston, James Trounsen, John Lundon and Joseph Dargaville, and they received 465, 454, 385 and 352 votes, respectively.
[9] Houston was succeeded by Vernon Reed, who represented the Liberal Party in the 1908 and 1911 elections.
[12] Harold Rushworth of the Country Party represented the electorate from the 1928 election onwards.
[15] Key Independent Liberal Reform Country Party Labour National Table footnotes: