1938 New Zealand General Election

Labour's record vote

14 (Māori) & 15 October (general) 1938 · Depression and the first Labour government · 80 seats, 41 for a majority

The 1938 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 26th term. It resulted in the governing Labour Party being re-elected in a landslide, winning nearly 56% of the vote despite not gaining any more seats.

Prime Minister before

Michael Joseph Savage

Labour

Prime Minister (continued)

Michael Joseph Savage

Labour

Largest force

Labour

53 of 80 seats

Turnout

92.9%

The result

Sort by

Labour

Michael Joseph Savage · 55.8% of votes · 0 seats

seats

National

Adam Hamilton · 40.3% of votes · +6 seats

seats

				Share of the House of Representatives
Labour	Michael Joseph Savage	53	0		528,290	55.8%	+10.1
National	Adam Hamilton	25	+6		381,081	40.3%	+7.4

2 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.