1856 Sewell Ministry

From 7 May onwards, Henry Sewell held office as colonial secretary, considered to be the equivalent of a prime minister or premier.Sir George Grey, the 3rd Governor of New Zealand, greatly influenced the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 (UK), which granted the colony self-government, allowing for a bicameral Parliament consisting of an elected House of Representatives of 24 to 42 members, and an appointed Legislative Council of not fewer than ten members.It also allowed for provinces to be formed, each presided over by an elected Superintendent, for initially Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago.[1] Once the provincial governments had been set up, New Zealand had given itself six miniature parliaments, endeavouring to emulate Westminster as best they could, for a total European population of about 30,000.He was appointed to the Executive Council on 18 April 1856, and became Colonial Secretary (considered to be the equivalent of Prime Minister), at the head of New Zealand's first responsible government, on 7 May.
Henry Sewell, 1st Premier of New Zealand
Premier of New Zealandresponsible governmentParliamentgovernments in New ZealandHenry Sewellcolonial secretaryprime minister of New ZealandGeorge GreyGovernor of New ZealandNew Zealand Constitution Act 1852bicameralHouse of RepresentativesLegislative CouncilprovincesSuperintendentAucklandTaranakiWellingtonNelsonCanterburyfirst ParliamentrepresentativeExecutive CouncilRobert WynyardadministratorThomas Gore BrowneJames FitzGeraldFitzgerald MinistryproroguedThomas ForsaithForsaith Ministry2nd New Zealand Parliament1st ParliamentTown of ChristchurchPrime MinisterDillon BellColonial TreasurerFrederick WhitakerAttorney-GeneralHenry Tancredminister without portfolioAndrew SinclairAlexander ShepherdMember of Executive CouncilMolloy, Brian P. J.Dictionary of New Zealand BiographyScholefield, GuyGovernment of New ZealandGovernments of New ZealandFitzgeraldForsaithFox (first)Stafford (first)Fox (second)DomettWhitaker–FoxStafford (second)Fox (third)Stafford (third)WaterhouseFox (fourth)Vogel (first)PollenVogel (second)Continuous MinistryAtkinson (first)Atkinson (second)WhitakerAtkinson (third)Stout–Vogel (first)Atkinson (fourth)Stout–Vogel (second)Atkinson (fifth)LiberalReformUnitedUnited–Reform coalitionFirst LabourFirst NationalSecond LabourSecond NationalThird LabourThird NationalFourth LabourFourth NationalFifth LabourFifth NationalSixth LabourFirst termSecond termSixth National