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. To date, it is the longest serving government in New Zealand history. 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].

[edit] Significant policies

[edit] Economic

• Passed the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1894.

[edit] Social policy

• Public Health Act founded the Department of Public Health in 1901.
• Workers Dwellings Act in 1905
• Old-age Pensions Act of 1898.

[edit] Foreign policy

• Declared the Flag of New Zealand as New Zealand's national flag in 1902.
• Committed New Zealand troops to Boer War.
• Annexed the Cook Islands (1901)

New Zealand's foreign policy at this time expressed a sense of nationhood but also of Britishness: New Zealanders were proud of their young nation and of being part of the British Empire. The annexation of the Cook Islands can be seen as part of a desire to create a miniature empire in the Pacific, which would be part of the wider British Empire. New Zealand's enthusiastic involvement in the Boer War expressed both loyalty to 'mother Britain' and a sense of being a nation which could play its part on the world stage. The war was the first overseas conflict to which New Zealand committed troops. Although the New Zealand blue ensign became the country's national flag, the Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain, continued to be widely used (the medals awarded at the conclusion of the war featured the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand).

[edit] Treaty of Waitangi and Maori

• Passed the Tohunga Suppression Act in 1907
• Māori Councils Act.

[edit] Constitutional

Governor Lord Plunkett declaring New Zealand a Dominion on the steps of Parliament in 1907

• Passed a resolution declaring New Zealand the Dominion of New Zealand in 1907, formally ending colonial status.
• Granted women's suffrage in 1893.

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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:

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

[edit] External links

• Official election results website
• The Seddon-Stout struggle for power

[edit] References

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

[edit] See also

• Governments of New Zealand

v • d • e Governments of New Zealand   First Liberal · Reform · United · Liberal-Reform government · First Labour · First National · Second Labour · Second National · Third Labour · Third National · Fourth Labour · Fourth National · Fifth Labour · Fifth National