The Timaru by-election 1962 was a by-election held in the Timaru electorate in Canterbury during the term of the 33rd New Zealand Parliament, on 21 July 1962.

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1962 Timaru by-election

← 1960 general 21 July 1962 (1962-07-21) 1963 general →
Turnout	14,455 (83.79%)
Candidate Sir Basil Arthur Derek Quigley Party Labour National Popular vote 7,578 6,271 Percentage 52.55 43.49
Member before election Clyde Carr Labour Elected Member Sir Basil Arthur Labour

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The by-election was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP Rev Clyde Carr of the Labour Party on 31 May 1962.^[1] Carr, who died on 18 September, had often been opposed to the party leaders.^[2]

Within the town of Timaru, there were polling booths in Caroline Bay, Church Street, Church Street West, College Road, Elizabeth Street, Evans Street, Grants Road, Grey Road, Courthouse, Kensington Methodist Hall, Watlington Sunday School, Queen Street, Seddon Street, Selwyn Street, Trafalgar Street, Wai-iti Road, and Woodlands Street. Outside of Timaru, there were polling booths in Claremont, Fairview, Gleniti, Kerrytown, Kingsdown, Levels, Otipua, Pareora, Rosewill, Salisbury, Seadown, and Washdyke.^{[lower-alpha 1][7]}

The by-election was won by Sir Basil Arthur, also of the Labour Party.^[8] Even on the provisional result, with over 1,400 special votes yet to be counted published on 22 July (the day after polling day), it was clear that Arthur had won by a considerable margin. Overseas votes were allowed to be received until 31 July by the returning officer, P. W. J. Cockerill.^[9] There were 1206 special and overseas votes that were allowed, and 192 special and overseas votes that were disallowed.^[10]