Development of Party Politics 1894-1916

1894

• Arbitration Court established to settle employment arguments between employers and workers.
• Mahuta Tawhiao Potatu Te Wherowhero becomes Māori King.

1896

• National population measured in census at 743,214.
• All voting rights based on residential qualifications, rather than property.

1898

• Old Age Pensions Act passed, first of its kind in the world, but Chinese residents excluded from qualifying for pension.

1899

• First celebrations of Labour Day to commemorate 8-hour working day.
• Seddon combines different local Liberal organisations into a national body, the Liberal and Labour Federation.
• New Zealanders now able to become members of an organised national political party.

1900

• Number of MPs increased to 80 (remain at this number until 1967).

1905

• Absentee voting available to all those unable to vote in their own electorate on polling day.
• First Electoral Officer appointed to supervise elections. Apirana Ngata wins Eastern Māori seat (holds it for almost 40 years).

1906

• Prime Minister Richard John Seddon dies.

1907

• New Zealand becomes a self-governing dominion.
• Fire destroys Parliament Buildings.
• Reading test imposed for Chinese immigrants.

1908

• New Zealand population reaches 1 million.
• William Massey announces the establishment of the Reform Party.

1909

• Federation of Labour formed.

1911

• First national referendum held on introducing prohibition legislation.
• A majority of the votes cast support prohibition, but the majority is too small for the ban to become law.

1912

• William Massey becomes prime minister of the first Reform government.

1913

• Waterfront strikes in Auckland and Wellington fail after armed farmers, known as 'Massey's Cossacks', ride in to keep the wharves operating.

1914-18

• World War I

1916

• Formation of New Zealand Labour Party.