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	Portrait	Office	Term
George Waterhouse, MLC		Premier	11 October 1872 - 3 March 1873
Julius Vogel		Colonial Treasurer	11 October 1872 - 6 July 1875
		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
		Minister for Public Works	29 October 1872 - 4 January 1877
George O'Rorke		Secretary for Crown Lands	24 October 1872 - 13 August 1874
		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

See also

• New Zealand Government

Notes

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

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.