John Bryce
Encyclopedia
John Bryce was a New Zealand politician from 1871 to 1891 and Minister of Native Affairs
from 1879 to 1884. In his attitudes to Maori land questions, he favoured strict legal actions against Maori opposed to alienation, and he personally directed the invasion of Parihaka
and the arrest of the leaders of the movement.
Described as being stubborn and embittered to Maori questions, Bryce was the public face of a harsh policy towards Maori, but his actions were supported by the Premier and other members of his cabinet.
In 1859, Bryce started his political career. By 1862 he was representing his area in the Wellington Provincial Council
, and by 1866 was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wanganui, a position he held for only a year before resigning due to ill-health.
warriors, killing two and wounding others and where Bryce was 'prominent and set the men a gallant example' according to his commanding officer. Later and more accurate reports had the Maori as a group of unarmed boys, aged from ten to twelve.
The incident was reported as an attack on woman and children in the 'History of New Zealand' published in 1883 and led to a libel action against the publisher George William Rusden
. Bryce was awarded damages as it was proved no women were present at Handley's woolshed, and Bryce denied being directly involved.
until 1887. From 1876 to 1879, he chaired the Native Affairs Committee and between 1879 to 1883, was the Minister of Native Affairs. He expanded the powers of the Native Land Court in order to facilitate the sale of Maori land, reduced the scope of the Native Department, and enforced the law against any Maori resisting land confiscation and sales. These actions made him deeply unpopular with Maori and Bishop Octavius Hadfield
reported that west coast Maori called him Bryce kohuru (Bryce the murderer).
and Tohu Kakahi
at Parihaka
and their followers cultivated and planted confiscated land. When Bryce became Minister in 1879, two hundred Maori ploughmen were already imprisoned, and his introduction of the Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners' Trials Act in 1879 allowed them to stay in prison awaiting trail for up to two years. By January 1881, his actions were being questioned in the British parliament, and he resigned to be replaced by the more moderate William Rolleston
.
Rolleston was to be Native Minister only until October 1881, and in his last act, proclaimed that Parihaka inhabitants had fourteen days to comply with the law or faced confiscation of all their lands. Bryce became Native Minister, and on 5 November 1881 was at Parihaka at the head of 1,600 Armed Constabulary to arrest the leaders and disperse the village.
In April 1882 Premier John Hall
privately criticised Bryce to the Attorney General and said he would resign 'unless Bryce turned over a new leaf'. When Bryce heard of this, he resigned, and the Hall Government fell. Bryce was re-appointed Native Minister under Premiers Frederick Whitaker
and Harry Atkinson
in 1882 to 1884.
Bryce lost his Waitotara seat
in 1887. In 1889, Bryce was re-elected in 1889, this time to Waipa
, and then in 1890 to Waikato
. He was considered by some of his parliamentary supporters to be a possible replacement for Premier Harry Atkinson. Briefly he was Leader of the Opposition
, but resigned from Parliament in 1891 for refusing to withdraw his criticism of the Premier.
Minister of Maori Affairs
The Minister of Māori Affairs is the minister of the New Zealand government with broad responsibility for government policy towards Māori, the first inhabitants of New Zealand. The current Minister of Māori Affairs is Dr. Pita Sharples.-Role:...
from 1879 to 1884. In his attitudes to Maori land questions, he favoured strict legal actions against Maori opposed to alienation, and he personally directed the invasion of Parihaka
Parihaka
Parihaka is a small community in Taranaki Region, New Zealand, located between Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. In the 1870s and 1880s the settlement, then reputed to be the largest Māori village in New Zealand, became the centre of a major campaign of non-violent resistance to European...
and the arrest of the leaders of the movement.
Described as being stubborn and embittered to Maori questions, Bryce was the public face of a harsh policy towards Maori, but his actions were supported by the Premier and other members of his cabinet.
Early life
John Bryce arrived in New Zealand as a child in 1840, and had little formal education. After a short time in the Australian gold-fields in 1851, he purchased a farm near Wanganui and remained a farmer for the next fifty years.In 1859, Bryce started his political career. By 1862 he was representing his area in the Wellington Provincial Council
Wellington Province
The Wellington Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:...
, and by 1866 was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wanganui, a position he held for only a year before resigning due to ill-health.
Titokowaru's War
When settlers were threatened by Maori led by Titikowaru in 1867, Bryce volunteered and became a lieutenant in the Kai-iwi Yeomanry Cavalry Volunteers. Bryce was proud of his commission, but an incident at William Handley's woolshed in November 1868 clouded his military career. Initially it was reported as an attack on a band of HauhauHauhau
Hauhau is a Māori term that was applied to a branch of the religious movement Pai Marire, founded by Te Ua Haumēne of the Taranaki tribe in New Zealand in the 1860s. The movement inculcated that Māori would regain land that they had lost to Europeans during the colonisation process of New...
warriors, killing two and wounding others and where Bryce was 'prominent and set the men a gallant example' according to his commanding officer. Later and more accurate reports had the Maori as a group of unarmed boys, aged from ten to twelve.
The incident was reported as an attack on woman and children in the 'History of New Zealand' published in 1883 and led to a libel action against the publisher George William Rusden
George William Rusden
George William Rusden was an English-born historian, active in Australia.-Early life:Rusden was born in Leith Hill Place , Surrey, England, son of the Rev. George Keylock Rusden, M.A. and his wife Anne, née Townsend. G.K...
. Bryce was awarded damages as it was proved no women were present at Handley's woolshed, and Bryce denied being directly involved.
Minister of Native Affairs
In 1871, Bryce was back in Parliament as MP for Wanganui to 1881, and then MP for WaitotaraWaitotara (New Zealand electorate)
Waitotara is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in South Taranaki.-Population Centres:The electorate is rural, in South Taranaki. It is based on the town of Waitotara, and is north of the city of Wanganui.-History:...
until 1887. From 1876 to 1879, he chaired the Native Affairs Committee and between 1879 to 1883, was the Minister of Native Affairs. He expanded the powers of the Native Land Court in order to facilitate the sale of Maori land, reduced the scope of the Native Department, and enforced the law against any Maori resisting land confiscation and sales. These actions made him deeply unpopular with Maori and Bishop Octavius Hadfield
Octavius Hadfield
Octavius Hadfield was Archdeacon of Kapiti, Bishop of Wellington from 1870 to 1893 and Primate of New Zealand from 1890 to 1893. A missionary for thirty years, he was recognised as an authority on Maori customs and language...
reported that west coast Maori called him Bryce kohuru (Bryce the murderer).
Parihaka
The alienation of Taranaki land was challenged by Te Whiti o RongomaiTe Whiti o Rongomai
Te Whiti o Rongomai III was a Māori spiritual leader and founder of the village of Parihaka, in New Zealand's Taranaki region.-Biography:...
and Tohu Kakahi
Tohu Kakahi
Tohu Kakahi was a Māori leader and prophet at Parihaka, who along with Te Whiti o Rongomai organised passive resistance against the occupation of Taranaki in the 1870s in New Zealand....
at Parihaka
Parihaka
Parihaka is a small community in Taranaki Region, New Zealand, located between Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. In the 1870s and 1880s the settlement, then reputed to be the largest Māori village in New Zealand, became the centre of a major campaign of non-violent resistance to European...
and their followers cultivated and planted confiscated land. When Bryce became Minister in 1879, two hundred Maori ploughmen were already imprisoned, and his introduction of the Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners' Trials Act in 1879 allowed them to stay in prison awaiting trail for up to two years. By January 1881, his actions were being questioned in the British parliament, and he resigned to be replaced by the more moderate William Rolleston
William Rolleston
William Rolleston was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.-Early life:...
.
Rolleston was to be Native Minister only until October 1881, and in his last act, proclaimed that Parihaka inhabitants had fourteen days to comply with the law or faced confiscation of all their lands. Bryce became Native Minister, and on 5 November 1881 was at Parihaka at the head of 1,600 Armed Constabulary to arrest the leaders and disperse the village.
In April 1882 Premier John Hall
John Hall (New Zealand)
Sir John Hall was born in Kingston upon Hull, England, and later became the 12th Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was also Mayor of Christchurch.-Migration to New Zealand:...
privately criticised Bryce to the Attorney General and said he would resign 'unless Bryce turned over a new leaf'. When Bryce heard of this, he resigned, and the Hall Government fell. Bryce was re-appointed Native Minister under Premiers Frederick Whitaker
Frederick Whitaker
Sir Frederick Whitaker, KCMG was an English-born New Zealand politician who served twice as the fifth Premier of New Zealand and six times as Attorney-General.-Early life:...
and Harry Atkinson
Harry Atkinson
Henry Albert "Harry" Atkinson 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...
in 1882 to 1884.
Bryce lost his Waitotara seat
Waitotara (New Zealand electorate)
Waitotara is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in South Taranaki.-Population Centres:The electorate is rural, in South Taranaki. It is based on the town of Waitotara, and is north of the city of Wanganui.-History:...
in 1887. In 1889, Bryce was re-elected in 1889, this time to Waipa
Waipa
Waipa is a former Parliamentary electorate in the Waikato Region of New Zealand, which existed for various periods between 1876 and 1996.-History:Waipa existed from 1876 to 1890, 1893 to 1896, then from 1954 to 1969, and then from 1978 to 1996....
, and then in 1890 to Waikato
Waikato (New Zealand electorate)
rightWaikato is the name of a current electorate in the New Zealand Parliament from 2006; which earlier existed for two periods, 1871 to 1960 and 1969 to 1996 when MMP was introduced....
. He was considered by some of his parliamentary supporters to be a possible replacement for Premier Harry Atkinson. Briefly he was Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)
The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Parliament. In the debating chamber the Leader of the Opposition sits directly opposite the Prime Minister...
, but resigned from Parliament in 1891 for refusing to withdraw his criticism of the Premier.