New Zealand general election, 1890
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government
, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.
It was also the first election in which there was no legal plural voting
. Multi-member electorates were re-introduced in the four main centres and the 'country quota
' (which gave more weight to rural votes) was increased to 28%.
74 MPs were elected to the 11th session
of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori electorates voted on 27 November and the European (now known as General) electorates on 5 December. There were 183,171 voters registered in the sixty-two European electorates, which returned a total of 70 members. This figure includes 13,668 voters in the six electorates where there was an unopposed return. 136,337 valid votes were cast in European electorates, including additional votes cast in the four three-member electorates.
Mackie and Rose suggest there was a 74.4% turnout, based on valid votes cast as a percentage of the registered electors. The official turnout figure is 80.4%, calculated on a different basis (see the Elections New Zealand official results web-site link below for further details of the changing methods used to calculate the official turnout).
The Māori vote, for the remaining four seats, was held on 27 November. Māori voters were not registered at this period.
Following the election John Ballance
formed the first Liberal Party ministry
, taking office on 24 January 1891. At this stage no formal party organisation existed, but the formation of the Liberal ministry signalled the end of the system by which governments were made up of a loose and unstable coalition of independent MPs and the beginning of the 'party system'.
First Liberal Government of New Zealand
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...
, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.
It was also the first election in which there was no legal plural voting
Plural voting
Plural voting is the practice whereby one person might be able to vote multiple times in an election. It is not to be confused with a plurality voting system which does not necessarily involve plural voting...
. Multi-member electorates were re-introduced in the four main centres and the 'country quota
Country quota
The country quota was a part of the New Zealand electoral system from 1881 until 1945. Its effect was to make urban constituencies more populous than those in rural areas, thus making rural votes worth more in general elections....
' (which gave more weight to rural votes) was increased to 28%.
74 MPs were elected to the 11th session
11th New Zealand Parliament
The 11th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 4 Māori electorates and 62 European electorates on 27 November and 5 December 1890, respectively...
of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori electorates voted on 27 November and the European (now known as General) electorates on 5 December. There were 183,171 voters registered in the sixty-two European electorates, which returned a total of 70 members. This figure includes 13,668 voters in the six electorates where there was an unopposed return. 136,337 valid votes were cast in European electorates, including additional votes cast in the four three-member electorates.
Mackie and Rose suggest there was a 74.4% turnout, based on valid votes cast as a percentage of the registered electors. The official turnout figure is 80.4%, calculated on a different basis (see the Elections New Zealand official results web-site link below for further details of the changing methods used to calculate the official turnout).
The Māori vote, for the remaining four seats, was held on 27 November. Māori voters were not registered at this period.
Following the election John Ballance
John Ballance
John Ballance served as the 14th Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century, and was the founder of the Liberal Party .-Early life:...
formed the first Liberal Party ministry
First Liberal Government of New Zealand
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...
, taking office on 24 January 1891. At this stage no formal party organisation existed, but the formation of the Liberal ministry signalled the end of the system by which governments were made up of a loose and unstable coalition of independent MPs and the beginning of the 'party system'.
Result by Party
| Party | Total votes | Percentage | Seats won | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76,548 | 56.1% | 40 | ||
| 39,338 | 28.9% | 25 | ||
| 20,451 | 15.0% | 9 | ||
- Notes:
- (1) Six European members were returned unopposed.
- (2) This election was held before the establishment of formal political parties, so the figures should only be regarded as an approximate indication of the division of political opinion.
- (3) Maori electorates did not have electoral rolls so their voting figures and percentages are not included above.