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]
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]
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 |
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| Executives without power |
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| Responsible government |
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| Governments along party lines |
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