Story: Electoral systems

1853 election poster

1853 election poster

New Zealand’s first parliamentary elections were held in 1853. This poster from that election lists some of the people supporting William Barnard Rhodes as a candidate. Rhodes was successful, and he became a member of the House of Representatives in New Zealand’s first Parliament. Rhodes continued to serve as a member of Parliament until his defeat in 1866.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: Eph-E-POLITICS-1853-01

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nigel S. Roberts, 'Electoral systems - Turning votes into seats', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/ephemera/35665/1853-election-poster (accessed 17 May 2024)

Story by Nigel S. Roberts, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Feb 2015