 National's Bruce Townshend was the Kaimai electorate's representative from its creation in 1978 to his death on 25 April 1987.Whilst general elections have since the traditionally been held on the last Saturday in November and a by-election is required if the death of an MP occurs more than six months prior to an election, the 1987 was held in August and no by-election was triggered; the earlier election date was a result of Muldoon's July 1984 snap election.Robert Anderson replaced Townshend at the 1987 election.