1872–1873 Waterhouse Ministry

The Waterhouse Ministry was a responsible government which held power in New Zealand from October 1872 to March 1873, led by the Hon. George Waterhouse from the Legislative Council.^[1] It is notable as the first Ministry to include Māori as members of Cabinet.^[2]

Background

George Waterhouse had previously been Premier of South Australia, and had represented the Fox-Vogel Ministry in the upper house of the New Zealand General Assembly for three weeks in 1871. Julius Vogel won a vote of no confidence against Premier Edward Stafford in October 1872 but the Governor did not call him to form a new government,^[3] instead asking William Fox, who in turn advised him to send for Waterhouse due to his status as an ex-Premier and current pastoralist.^[4] Waterhouse saw himself as a politically neutral arbiter figure and did not take either a portfolio or a salary, in practice leaving the leadership of the government to Vogel.^[5]

Wi Katene and Wiremu Parata were the first indigenous Ministers in New Zealand; Parata called for both races to work together, but his support for the Government caused him some difficulties in Māori circles.^[2] Native Minister Donald McLean consulted the Māori Members ahead of the introduction of his Native Lands Act 1873, but only Parata approved.^[6]

Although it was regarded as a provincialist ministry, the Waterhouse Government continued Vogel's policy of boosting Public Works and Immigration through debt-funded central government activity.^[7] Waterhouse was not aware of the details of Vogel's management of the colonial finances until he filled in as Treasurer while Vogel was overseas; what he learned at this time made him disillusioned as to the sustainability of the borrowing policy, and he decided to resign.^[8] John Hall, who was also intending to resign from Cabinet for health reasons, prevailed upon Waterhouse to remain in office to keep the Ministry going.^[9] The retiring Governor Bowen also objected to Waterhouse's resignation and refused to accept it - Waterhouse therefore banned him from using the Government's steamer to leave the colony until he did so.^[8] Vogel now took his turn as Premier, although Fox took the office until Vogel was able to return from Australia.^[10]

Ministers

The following members served in the Waterhouse Ministry:^[11]

Name	Office	Term
George Waterhouse, MLC	Premier	11 October 1872 - 3 March 1873
Julius Vogel	Colonial Treasurer	11 October 1872 - 6 July 1875
Julius Vogel	Postmaster-General	11 October 1872 - 1 September 1876
Donald McLean	Native MInister	11 October 1872 - 7 December 1876
John Hall, MLC	Colonial Secretary	11 October 1872 - 3 March 1873
John Davies Ormond	Minister for Public Works	11 October 1872 - 29 October 1872
John Bathgate	Commissioner of Customs	11 October 1872 - 26 October 1872
	Minister of Justice	29 October 1872 - 20 February 1874
	Commissioner of Stamps	29 October 1872 - 20 February 1874
Edward Richardson	Member of Executive Council	11 October 1872 - 3 March 1873
Edward Richardson	Minister for Public Works	29 October 1872 - 4 January 1877
George O'Rorke	Secretary for Crown Lands	24 October 1872 - 13 August 1874
George O'Rorke	Minister for Immigration	24 October 1872 - 11 October 1873
William Reynolds	Commissioner of Customs	26 October 1872 - 15 February 1876
Wi Katene	Member of Executive Council	4 November 1872 - 15 February 1876
Wiremu Parata	Member of Executive Council	4 December 1872 - 15 February 1876

Notes

^ Wilson, J. O. (James Oakley) (1985). New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. p. 64.
^ ^a ^b Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Parata, Wiremu Te Kakakura". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ Dalziel, Raewynn (1986). Julius Vogel: Business Politician. Auckland University Press, Oxford University Press. p. 152.
^ Bohan, Edmund (1994). Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman. Hazard Press. p. 327.
^ Dalziel, Raewynn (1986). Julius Vogel: Business Politician. Auckland University Press, Oxford University Press. p. 153.
^ Fargher, Ray (2007). The best man who ever served the Crown? : a life of Donald McLean. Victoria University Press. p. 322.
^ McLintock, Alexander Hare; Warwick Robert Armstrong, M. A.; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "VOGEL, Sir Julius, K.C.M.G." An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ ^a ^b McLintock, Alexander Hare; Bernard John Foster, M. A.; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "WATERHOUSE, Hon. George Marsden". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ Garner, Jean (195). By His Own Merits: Sir John Hall: Pioneer, Pastoralist and Premier. Dryden Press. p. 155.
^ McLintock, Alexander Hare; William Parker Morrell, M. A. (N Z. ); Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "FOX, Sir William". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ Wilson, J. O. (1985). Parliamentary Record of New Zealand (4th ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. p. 64.

References

Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.

[1] Wilson, J. O. (James Oakley) (1985). New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. p. 64.

[:0-2] Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Parata, Wiremu Te Kakakura". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

[3] Dalziel, Raewynn (1986). Julius Vogel: Business Politician. Auckland University Press, Oxford University Press. p. 152.

[4] Bohan, Edmund (1994). Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman. Hazard Press. p. 327.

[5] Dalziel, Raewynn (1986). Julius Vogel: Business Politician. Auckland University Press, Oxford University Press. p. 153.

[6] Fargher, Ray (2007). The best man who ever served the Crown? : a life of Donald McLean. Victoria University Press. p. 322.

[7] McLintock, Alexander Hare; Warwick Robert Armstrong, M. A.; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "VOGEL, Sir Julius, K.C.M.G." An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

[:1-8] McLintock, Alexander Hare; Bernard John Foster, M. A.; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "WATERHOUSE, Hon. George Marsden". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

[9] Garner, Jean (195). By His Own Merits: Sir John Hall: Pioneer, Pastoralist and Premier. Dryden Press. p. 155.

[10] McLintock, Alexander Hare; William Parker Morrell, M. A. (N Z. ); Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "FOX, Sir William". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

[11] Wilson, J. O. (1985). Parliamentary Record of New Zealand (4th ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. p. 64.

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v t e Governments of New Zealand
Executives without power	Fitzgerald Forsaith
Responsible government	Sewell Fox (first) Stafford (first) Fox (second) Domett Whitaker–Fox Weld Stafford (second) Fox (third) Stafford (third) Waterhouse Fox (fourth) Vogel (first) Pollen Vogel (second) Continuous Ministry Atkinson (first) Atkinson (second) Grey Hall Whitaker Atkinson (third) Stout–Vogel (first) Atkinson (fourth) Stout–Vogel (second) Atkinson (fifth)
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1872–1873 Waterhouse Ministry

Background

Ministers

See also

Notes

References