TheNew Zealand Constitution Act 1852 authorised theGeneral Assembly to establish newelectoral districts and to alter the boundaries of, or abolish, existing districts whenever this was deemed necessary. The rapid growth of New Zealand's European population in the early years of representative government (particularly inOtago) meant changes to electoral districts were implemented frequently, both atgeneral elections, and on four occasions as supplementary elections within the lifetime of a parliament.
TheElectoral Districts Act 1858[1] established four new electorates;Marsden andWairarapa in the North Island, andCheviot andWallace in the South Island. Elections were held from 7 November to 18 December 1859 during the term of the2nd New Zealand Parliament and required redrawing of the electoral boundaries ofBay of Islands,Northern Division,Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay (renamed asCounty of Hawke),Wairau,Christchurch Country andDunedin Country electorates.
The Wairarapa election was won unopposed byCharles Carter on 7 November 1859.[2]
The Marsden election was won byJames Farmer on 29 November 1859.
On nomination day (21 November) James Farmer andJohn Munro were nominated, and after a show of hands in favour of Farmer, Munro demanded a poll. James Farmer was subsequently elected the following week, although voting figures are currently unknown.[3]
The Wallace election was won unopposed byDillon Bell on 30 November 1859.[4]
The Cheviot election was won unopposed byEdward Jollie on 18 December 1859.[5]
TheRepresentation Act 1862[6] added two new electorates and four additional MPs toOtago Province in the South of the South Island.Gold Fields electorate was overlaid over the entire province, and the electorates of Bruce and City of Dunedin were substantially redrawn, withCity of Dunedin disappearing and two new electorates,Dunedin and Suburbs North andDunedin and Suburbs South replacing it. Elections were held from 28 March to 14 April 1863. All electorates before and after changes returned two members, with each of the previous incumbents in City of Dunedin being assigned an incumbency in one of the Dunedin Suburbs electorates althoughThomas Dick resigned before taking up his entitlement in Dunedin and Suburbs North.
The Dunedin and Suburbs North election was won unopposed byJohn Richardson on 28 March 1863.[7]
The Dunedin and Suburbs South election was won byWilliam Reynolds on 6 April 1863.
On nomination day (2 April) Reynolds,William Cutten andJulius Vogel were nominated, and after a show of hands in favour of Reynolds, Cutten and Vogel demanded a poll. Reynolds was subsequently elected the following week.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Reynolds | 77 | 64.7 | ||
| Independent | Julius Vogel | 31 | 26.1 | ||
| Independent | William Cutten | 11 | 9.2 | ||
| Turnout | 119 | ||||
| Majority | 46 | ||||
TheGold Fields election returned two members, and was won unopposed byWilliam Baldwin andGeorge Brodie on 14 April 1863.[9]
TheWestland Representation Act 1867[10] introduced changes to theWaimea andWestland electorates. Their areas were reassigned and four electorates formed. Waimea lost some area, but continued to exist. Westland was abolished in 1867. A new electorateWestland Boroughs (comprising the towns of Greymouth and Hokitika) was established, and the Act stipulated that the sitting Westland member,William Sefton Moorhouse, was transferred to it. Other new electorates,Westland North andWestland South held elections from 3–9 April 1868.
The Westland South election was won byEdmund Barff on 6 April 1868.
On nomination day (30 March) Barff andCharles Button were nominated, and after a show of hands in favour of Button, a poll was demanded.[11] Edmund Barff was subsequently elected the following week.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Edmund Barff | 355 | 51.7 | ||
| Independent | Charles Button | 332 | 48.3 | ||
| Turnout | 687 | ||||
| Majority | 23 | ||||
The Westland North election was won byTimothy Gallagher on 9 April 1868.
On nomination day (4 April) Gallagher, George Donne, and George Horne were nominated, and after a show of hands in favour of Horne, Donne demanded a poll. Timothy Gallagher was subsequently elected the following week.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Timothy Gallagher | 597 | 67.0 | ||
| Independent | George Horne | 270 | 30.3 | ||
| Independent | George Donne | 24 | 2.7 | ||
| Turnout | 891 | ||||
| Majority | 327 | ||||
TheMaori Representation Act 1867[16] established four electorates to represent the indigenous Māori population.The European (or General) electorates at the time only enfranchised adult males who were the owners of freehold or leasehold land, and as Māori land was generally communally owned under customary title this put them outside the definitions of the Constitution Act, and unable to register to vote.Elections to the four electorates;Eastern Maori,Northern Maori,Southern Maori andWestern Maori were held on or around 15 April 1868.
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