The First Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The Government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on the 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July 1912. The government was also historically notable for enacting significant social and economic changes, such as the Old Age Pensions Act and Women's suffrage. One historian described the policies of the government as "...a revolution in the relationship between the government and the people..."^[1]. The Governments of New Zealand are based on the Westminster system of responsible government. ... This article is about the original New Zealand Liberal Party. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Significant policies

• Granted women's suffrage in 1893.
• Old-age Pensions Act of 1898.
• Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

New Zealand was the first self-governing country in the world to give women the vote in national elections. ...

Formation

The formation of the Liberal party came after the victory of liberal-leaning members of Parliament, led by John Ballance, at the 1890 general election John Ballance (March 27, 1839 - 27 April 1893), served as Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century, and was the founder of the Liberal Party (the countrys first organized political party). ... The New Zealand general election of 1890 was held on December 5 to elect 74 MPs to the 11th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ...

Defeat

The government lost its majority at the 1911 general election, but managed to stay in office with the support of independent MPs until the following year. The government was eventually defeated in a vote of confidence on 10 July 1912. The New Zealand general election of 1911 was held December 7 and December 14 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 18th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Electoral results

Notes:- 1. The vote totals and percentages, from 1890 to 1902, exclude the four Maori electorates. From 1890 to 1902 additional votes cast in four three-member electorates are included. The comparability over time of the vote totals are also affected by unopposed elections. The electorates where there was no contest numbered six in 1890, three in 1893 and 1899, and one in 1911.
2. There were no organized parties at the time of the 1890 election. The figures given are an approximate indication of the division of political opinion between Liberals and others.
3. The seat figures given are from the Elections New Zealand website. They are the same as those in the International Almanac of Electoral History and the New Zealand elections Wikipedia article. However the list of members elected in the Wikipedia article on the New Zealand general election, 1899 is divided between 54 Liberals and 20 others; which would produce a majority of 34.
4. As for 1899 save that the list of members elected in the Wikipedia article on the New Zealand general election, 1902 is divided between 51 Liberals and 29 others; which would produce a majority of 22.
5. As for 1899 save that the list of members elected in the Wikipedia article on the New Zealand general election, 1905 is divided between 55 Liberals and 25 others; which would produce a majority of 30.
6. As for 1899 save that the list of members elected in the Wikipedia article on the New Zealand general election, 1908 is divided between 47 Liberals and 33 others; which would produce a majority of 14.
7. As for 1899 save that the list of members elected in the Wikipedia article on the New Zealand general election, 1911 is divided between 36 Liberals and 44 others; which would produce a minority of 9. The New Zealand general election of 1890 was held on December 5 to elect 74 MPs to the 11th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1893 was held November 28 to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 12th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1896 was held December 4 to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 13th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1899 was held December 6 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 14th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1902 was held November 25 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 15th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1905 was held December 6 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 16th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held November 17, November 24 and December 1 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1911 was held December 7 and December 14 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 18th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... Members of New Zealands House of Representatives, commonly called Parliament, normally gain their seats in nationwide general elections, or (less frequently) in by-elections. ... The New Zealand general election of 1899 was held December 6 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 14th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1902 was held November 25 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 15th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1905 was held December 6 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 16th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held November 17, November 24 and December 1 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... The New Zealand general election of 1911 was held December 7 and December 14 to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 18th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ...

List of Premiers and Prime Ministers

Five Premiers and Prime Ministers (the title of Premier was changed during the term in office of the Government) served during the government's tenure, with two (Ballance and Seddon) dying in office: The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealands head of government and is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand. ...

• John Ballance (1891 - 1893)
• Richard Seddon (1893 - 1906)
• William Hall-Jones (1906)
• Joseph Ward (1906 - 1912)
• Thomas Mackenzie (1912)

John Ballance (March 27, 1839 - 27 April 1893), served as Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century, and was the founder of the Liberal Party (the countrys first organized political party). ... Richard John Seddon (1845 - 1906), sometimes known as King Dick, was the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. ... William Hall-Jones (1851-1936) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from June 1906 until August 1906. ... Joseph George Ward (1856 - 1930) was Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century. ... Sir Thomas Mackenzie, (1854-1930) was Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1912, and later served as High Commissioner. ...

External link

• Official election results website

References

• The International Almanac of Electoral History, 3rd edition, Thomas T. Mackie and Richard Rose (Macmillan 1991)

There are two notable people named James Belich. ... Dr Michael King OBE (15 December 1945 - 30 March 2004) was a widely respected Pakeha New Zealand historian, author and biographer. ...

See also

• Governments of New Zealand

Governments of New Zealand v • d • e

First Liberal | First Reform | National coalition | Second Reform | United | Liberal-Reform government | First Labour | First National | Second Labour | Second National | Third Labour | Third National | Fourth Labour | Fourth National | Fifth Labour