| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Kerr | 253 | 42.38 | ||
| Independent | William Norris Franklyn[2] | 250 | 41.88 | ||
| Independent | William Whyte | 94 | 15.75 | ||
| Independent | Christian Dencker | 91 | 15.24 | ||
| Independent | William Wastney | 59 | 9.88 | ||
| Independent | Jesse Piper | 32 | 5.36 | ||
| Turnout | 597 | ||||
| Majority | 3 | 0.50 | |||
- ^ "Waikouaiti Election". Nelson Examiner. 6 July 1872.
- ^ Scholefield 1940, pp. 280.