Since the 1969 election, the number of electorates in the South Island was fixed at 25, with continued faster population growth in the North Island leading to an increase in the number of general electorates.
[2] Together with increased urbanisation in Christchurch and Nelson, the changes proved very disruptive to existing electorates.
National's Allan McCready had represented the Otaki electorate since 1960 and when Otaki was abolished in 1972 and the Manawatu electorate moved towards the south and included the town of Levin, McCready transferred to Manawatu.
[11] Shields had initially been declared the winner of the 1978 election but she lost by 83 votes on a magisterial recount.
Sowry stood for Otaki, was defeated by Labour's Judy Keall, but remained in Parliament as a list MP.