The first Parliament meets
- When
- 24 May 1854
- Where
- Auckland · Tāmaki Makaurau
- Reach
- Nationwide
Thirty-seven members assembled in a temporary building in Auckland and immediately began demanding control of the executive.
The first House had no power over the Governor’s ministers, and spent its opening session fighting about that. Responsible government followed two years later, though the Governor retained control of ‘native affairs’ until 1863 — the arrangement that let settler ministers press for land while blaming London for the consequences.
Regions affected
Sources
Written for this project from these references rather than copied from them. Follow a link to check the account against the original.
Related
New Zealand Constitution Act
Representative government arrived, divided into six provinces — and the property franchise excluded almost all Māori, who held land communally.
Responsible government begins
Henry Sewell formed the first ministry answerable to Parliament rather than to the Governor — though Māori affairs stayed in the Governor’s hands.
The capital moves to Wellington
Australian commissioners were asked to pick a more central capital, and chose Wellington. Auckland was furious and briefly talked of separation.
WellingtonNew Zealand becomes a separate colony
New Zealand was detached from New South Wales and given its own Governor, Legislative Council and courts.