The 4th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

of New Zealand. Elections for this term were held in 61 electorates between 12 February and 6 April 1866 to elect 70 MPs. Parliament was prorogued in late 1870. During the term of this Parliament, two Ministries were in power. During this term, four

Māori electorates In New Zealand politics, Māori electorates, colloquially known as the Māori seats, are a special category of electorate that give reserved positions to representatives of Māori in the New Zealand Parliament. Every area in New Zealand is ...

were first established in 1867, and the first elections held in 1868.

Sessions

The 4th Parliament opened on 30 June 1866, following the 1866 general election. It sat for five sessions, and was prorogued on 6 December 1875.

Historical context

Political parties had not been established yet; this only happened after the 1890 election. Anyone attempting to form an administration thus had to win support directly from individual MPs. This made first forming, and then retaining a government difficult and challenging. The 4th Parliament sat during the time of the

New Zealand Wars The New Zealand Wars took place from 1845 to 1872 between the New Zealand colonial government and allied Māori on one side and Māori and Māori-allied settlers on the other. They were previously commonly referred to as the Land Wars or the M ...

, with the

Second Taranaki War The Second Taranaki War is a term used by some historians for the period of hostilities between Māori and the New Zealand Government in the Taranaki district of New Zealand between 1863 and 1866. The term is avoided by some historians, who eit ...

proceeding at the beginning of this Parliament's term. The

Central Otago Gold Rush The Otago Gold Rush (often called the Central Otago Gold Rush) was a gold rush that occurred during the 1860s in Central Otago, New Zealand. This was the country's biggest gold strike, and led to a rapid influx of foreign miners to the area – ...

was coming to an end, but the

West Coast Gold Rush The West Coast Gold Rush, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, lasted from 1864 to 1867. Description The gold rush populated the area, which up until then had been visited by few Europeans. Gold was found near the Taramakau River in ...

had only just begun. The capital had moved from

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

in 1865. Parliament was meeting in the Provincial Council buildings. With the increase in the number of Members of Parliament to 70, conditions became very crowded. The original building "grew like topsy" until the end of the 19th century, and was consumed by fire on 11 December 1907. In 1868, the first elections were held in the four

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

electorates that were created in the previous year.

Ministries

A few months before the 1866 general elections, Edward Stafford became

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...

for the second time. On 16 October 1865, the second Stafford Ministry was formed. This lasted well into the term of the 4th Parliament on 28 June 1869. The premiership changed back to William Fox. The third Fox Ministry was in place from 28 June 1869 to 10 September 1872, well into the term of the 5th Parliament.

Electorates

61 electorates were used for the 1866 elections. This was a significant increase from the 43 electorates used in the previous ( 1860–1861) election, and resulted from the Representation Act 1865. The bill had its third reading and was assented in October 1865.

Initial composition of the 4th Parliament

70 seats were created across the 61 electorates. The City of Wellington electorate was the only three-member electorate, and seven electorates were represented by two members. The remaining 53 electorates were represented by a single member.

Changes during term

There were numerous changes during the term of the 4th Parliament.

Existing electorates

;Ashley Walker resigned in 1867. Henry Tancred won the subsequent 1867 by-election. ;Auckland West James Williamson resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by Patrick Dignan. ;Avon Ward resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by William Reeves, who himself resigned in 1868.

William Rolleston William Rolleston (19 September 1831 – 8 February 1903) was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent. Early life Rolleston was born on 19 September 1831 at Maltby, Yorkshire as th ...

won the subsequent 1868 by-election. ;Bruce Cargill resigned in 1870 and was succeeded by

James Clark Brown James Clark Brown (December 1830 – 6 February 1891) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Otago, New Zealand. He stood unsuccessfully in the for ; a contemporary report saying that his loss was due to ''his own inaction'' and al ...

. ;Caversham Burns resigned in 1870 and was succeeded by

James McIndoe James McIndoe (1824 – 4 September 1905) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Dunedin, New Zealand. Born in Rothesay, Bute, Scotland, McIndoe emigrated to Otago in New Zealand in 1859. He was elected as a member of the Otago Provi ...

. ;City of Christchurch FitzGerald resigned in 1867 and was succeeded by William Travers, who himself resigned in 1870.

William Sefton Moorhouse William Sefton Moorhouse ( 1825 – 15 September 1881) was a British-born New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province. Early life Moorhouse was born in Yorkshire, England, and baptised on 18 December 1825; th ...

took the seat for the remaining months in 1870. ;City of Dunedin Paterson resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by

Thomas Birch Thomas Birch (23 November 17059 January 1766) was an English historian. Life He was the son of Joseph Birch, a coffee-mill maker, and was born at Clerkenwell. He preferred study to business but, as his parents were Quakers, he did not go to t ...

. ;City of Nelson Stafford resigned in 1868 and was succeeded by Nathaniel Edwards. ;Collingwood Richmond resigned in 1868 and was succeeded by Arthur Shuckburgh Collins. ;Kaiapoi Beswick resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by

John Studholme John Studholme (1829–1903) was a 19th-century British pioneer of New Zealand, farmer and politician in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.Mosley, vol.3 p. 2803 Early life John Studholme was born in 1829 the son of John Studholme, a landowner ...

. ;Manuherikia Baldwin resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by

David Mervyn David Hunter Mervyn was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in the Otago region of New Zealand. He represented the Manuherikia electorate from 1867 to 1870 through winning the by-election on 15 May, and then the Mount Ida electorate from 1 ...

. ;Marsden Hull resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by John Munro. ;Mongonui Ball resigned in 1870. He was succeeded by

Thomas Gillies Thomas Bannatyne Gillies (17 January 1828 – 26 July 1889) was a 19th-century New Zealand lawyer, judge and politician. Early life He was born at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, on 17 January 1828. He was the eldest of nine children of ...

on 30 March 1870. ;Mount Herbert Moorhouse was elected in the Mount Herbert electorate on 22 February 1866. He also stood in the Westland electorate and was returned 16 March 1866. He chose to represent Westland. A

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...

was held on 27 July 1866 and

Thomas Potts Thomas Henry Potts (23 December 1824 – 27 July 1888) was a British-born New Zealand naturalist, ornithologist, entomologist, and botanist. He also served in the New Zealand Parliament from 1866 to 1870. Biography The son of a small ar ...

was returned unopposed. ;New Plymouth Richardson resigned in 1867 and was succeeded by

Harry Atkinson Sir Harry Albert Atkinson (1 November 1831 – 28 June 1892) served as the tenth premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years. He was responsible for guiding t ...

, who himself resigned in 1869. Thomas Kelly won the 1869 by-election. ;Newton Graham resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by Robert James Creighton. ;Northern Division Henderson resigned in 1867. The 6 July 1867 by-election was won by

Thomas Macfarlane Thomas Macfarlane (1811–1885) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from the Auckland Region, New Zealand. He represented the Northern Division electorate from 1867 Events January–March * January 1 – The Covington– ...

. O'Neill resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by Henry Warner Farnall. ;Oamaru Campbell resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by Charles Christie Graham. ;Omata Atkinson resigned in 1867 and was succeeded in the 1868 by-election by Charles Brown, who himself resigned in 1870.

Frederic Carrington Frederic Alonzo Carrington (Oct 1807 – 15 July 1901) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician and surveyor. He is regarded as the Father of New Plymouth. Carrington was born in Chelmsford, Essex, England, in 1807, the son of Captain Willi ...

was the successful candidate in the 1870 by-election. ;Parnell Whitaker resigned in 1867 and was succeeded by

Charles Heaphy Charles Heaphy VC (1820 – 3 August 1881) was an English-born New Zealand explorer and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest military award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that could be awarded to British and Empire forc ...

. ;Pensioner Settlements De Quincey resigned in 1867. The 5 August 1867 by-election was won by John Kerr. A second person, a Mr Jackson, was nominated, but the returning officer would not accept the nomination, as Jackson was not on the electoral roll. Thus, Kerr was declared elected unopposed. ;Picton Beauchamp resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by William Adams, who himself resigned in 1868.

Courtney Kenny Courtney Kenny may refer to: * Courtney Kenny (New Zealand politician) Courtney William Alymer Thomas Kenny (25 December 1835 – 12 December 1905) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from the Marlborough Region, New Zealand. Courtena ...

won the 1868 by-election. ;Port Chalmers Dick, who was elected on 17 March 1866, resigned on 15 October 1866. He successfully contested the 15 December 1866 by-election, but resigned again on 26 April 1867.

David Forsyth Main David Forsyth Main (1831 – 27 July 1880) was a 19th-century member of parliament in Otago, New Zealand. Main was one of three candidates in the electorate in the , when he came a close second to James Benn Bradshaw. Main represented the ...

successfully contested the 1867 by-election. ;Raglan Newman resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by

James Farmer James Leonard Farmer Jr. (January 12, 1920 – July 9, 1999) was an American civil rights activist and leader in the Civil Rights Movement "who pushed for nonviolent protest to dismantle segregation, and served alongside Martin Luther King Jr." H ...

. ;Rangitīkei Watt resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by William Fox, who won the 1868 by-election. ;Roslyn Hepburn resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by

Henry Driver Henry Driver (1831–23 Jan 1893) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Otago, New Zealand. He was born in the United States, but as a young man emigrated to Victoria, Australia. When the Otago Gold Rush began in 1861 he establis ...

. ;Taieri Reid resigned in 1869. He was succeeded by Henry Howorth. ;Timaru Cox resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by Edward Stafford. ;Town of Lyttelton Hargreaves resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by

George Macfarlan George Macfarlan (1837/1838 – 9 October 1868) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament representing the Lyttelton electorate. Professional career Macfarlan was the only son of the Rev. George Macfarlan of Gainford, County Durham. He was educate ...

, who won the 1867 by-election. Macfarlan died on 9 October 1868 and was succeeded by

John Thomas Peacock John Thomas Peacock MLC JP (1827 – 20 October 1905) was a New Zealand businessman, philanthropist and politician. He came to Canterbury in 1844, several years before organised settlement started. Early life Peacock was born in 1827 in the H ...

in a 2 November 1868 by-election. ;Waikouaiti Murison resigned in 1868 and was succeeded by Robert Mitchell. Mitchell himself resigned in the following year and was replaced by Francis Rich. ;Waimea Oliver resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by

Edward Baigent Edward Baigent (22 June 1813 – 9 November 1892) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand. He was one of the most successful saw-millers of the region, and his company existed for well over 100 years. Family Edward Baige ...

. ;Wallace McNeil resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by

Cuthbert Cowan Cuthbert Cowan (1835 – 4 April 1927) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Southland, New Zealand. Biography Political career Cowan represented the Wallace electorate in 1869, but he resigned after only three months, and then th ...

. Cowan himself resigned in the same year he got elected and was replaced by George Webster. ;Westland The Westland Representation Act 1867 introduced changes to the Waimea and Westland electorates. Their areas were reassigned and four electorates formed. Waimea lost some area, but continued to exist. Westland was abolished in 1867. A new electorate (

Westland Boroughs Westland Boroughs was a parliamentary electorate in the West Coast of New Zealand from 1866 to 1870. Population centres Westland Boroughs was made up of the areas covered by the boroughs of Greymouth and Hokitika. The enabling legislation allow ...

) was established, and Moorhouse was transferred to it. Other new electorates, for which by-elections were to be held, were

Westland North Westland North was a parliamentary electorate on the West Coast of New Zealand from 1868 to 1870. History The Westland Representation Act 1867 introduced changes to the Waimea and Westland electorates. Their areas were reassigned and four elec ...

and

Westland South Westland South was a parliamentary electorate on the West Coast of New Zealand from 1868 to 1870. History The Westland Representation Act 1867 introduced changes to the Waimea and Westland electorates. Their areas were reassigned and four elec ...

New electorate

;Westland Boroughs

was established through the Westland Representation Act 1867, and Moorhouse transferred to it. He resigned in 1868, and

William Henry Harrison William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773April 4, 1841) was an American military officer and politician who served as the ninth president of the United States. Harrison died just 31 days after his inauguration in 1841, and had the shortest pres ...

won the resulting 1868 by-election. ;Westland North

was established through the Westland Representation Act 1867. Timothy Gallagher was its first representative, elected in the 9 April 1868 by-election. He resigned on 13 May 1870 and was succeeded by

Thomas Kynnersley Thomas Alfred Sneyd Kynnersley (14 June 1839 – 1 February 1874), who signed as T. A. Sneyd Kynnersley, was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand. Early life He was born in Uttoxeter in the West Midlands regio ...

following a 2 July 1870 by-election. ;Westland South

was established through the Westland Representation Act 1867.

Edmund Barff Edmund Barff (5 March 1833 – 29 June 1882) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from the West Coast, New Zealand. Barff was born in the English county of Kent on 5 March 1833, probably at Lee (now part of Greater London), where he was ba ...

was its representative, elected in the 6 April 1868 by-election.

Māori electorates

The first elections for the new

were held in 1868. ;Eastern Maori

Tāreha Te Moananui Tāreha Te Moananui (died 19 December 1880) was a principal chief of the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi, and a Māori member of Parliament in New Zealand from 1868 to 1870. Born between 1800 and 1810, Tāreha was the son of Oneone and Hāmene. He added Te ...

was the first representative for the

Eastern Maori Eastern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Northern Maori, Western Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updated, an ...

electorate. ;Northern Maori Frederick Nene Russell was the first representative for the

Northern Maori Northern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Eastern Maori, Western Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updated, an ...

electorate. ;Southern Maori John Patterson was the first representative for the

Southern Maori Southern Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Eastern Maori, Western Maori and Eastern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updated, an ...

electorate. ;Western Maori

Mete Kīngi Paetahi Mete Kīngi Te Rangi Paetahi (c. 1813 – 22 September 1883) was a Member of Parliament in New Zealand. He was one of four Māori elected in the first Māori elections of 1868 for the new Māori electorates in the House of Representatives. Pr ...

was the first representative for the

Western Maori Western Maori was one of New Zealand's four original parliamentary Māori electorates established in 1868, along with Northern Maori, Eastern Maori and Southern Maori. In 1996, with the introduction of MMP, the Maori electorates were updated, ...

electorate.

Notes

References

* * * * * * *{{cite book , last= Wilson , first= James Oakley , title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 , edition= 4th , orig-year= First ed. published 1913 , year= 1985 , publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer , location= Wellington , oclc= 154283103 04