History
The electorate was formed for the 1866 election. William Sefton Moorhouse stood in the electorate and was returned 16 March 1866 in favour of William Shaw.[3][4]
The general election was held on 22 February 1866 in the Mount Herbert electorate, in which Moorhouse was returned unopposed.[3][5] Having been elected in two electorates, Moorhouse chose to represent Westland.[6] Moorhouse resigned on 20 February 1868.[3]
Joseph Grimmond, who had since 1887 represented the Hokitika electorate, contested the Westland electorate in the 1890 general election against Richard Seddon, with Seddon being successful.[7] In the 1893 election, Seddon was returned unopposed.[8] In the 1896 election, Seddon was again opposed by Grimmond but remained successful.[9] Seddon held the electorate until his death in 1906.[10] He was succeeded by his son Tom, who in turn represented the electorate until his defeat in the 1925 election by Labour's James O'Brien.[11]
Members of Parliament
The electorate was represented by seven Members of Parliament:[12]
Key
| Election | Winner | |
| 1866 election | William Sefton Moorhouse | |
| (Electorate abolished 1868–1890, see Westland South, Westland North, Waimea, and Westland Boroughs) | ||
| 1890 election | Richard Seddon | |
| 1893 election | ||
| 1896 election | ||
| 1899 election | ||
| 1902 election | ||
| 1905 election | ||
| 1906 by-election | Tom Seddon | |
| 1908 election | ||
| 1911 election | ||
| 1914 election | ||
| 1919 election | ||
| 1922 election | James O'Brien | |
| 1925 election | Tom Seddon (2nd period) | |
| 1928 election | James O'Brien (2nd period) | |
| 1931 election | ||
| 1935 election | ||
| 1938 election | ||
| 1943 election | ||
| 1946 election | ||
| 1947 by-election | Jim Kent | |
| 1949 election | ||
| 1951 election | ||
| 1954 election | ||
| 1957 election | ||
| 1960 election | Paddy Blanchfield | |
| 1963 election | ||
| 1966 election | ||
| 1969 election | ||
| (Electorate abolished in 1972, see West Coast and Tasman) | ||