Story: Local and regional government

Instructions on forming local governments, 1840

Instructions on forming local governments, 1840

These frank instructions on forming 'municipal and district governments for the conduct of all local affairs' were sent in December 1840 to New Zealand's first governor, William Hobson, by the head of Britain's Colonial Office, Lord John Russell. 

Using this item

University of Waikato
Reference: 0311.17. Copy of a despatch from Lord John Russell to Governor Hobson, 9 December 1840. British Parliamentary Papers: Waikato University Library Digital Collection. http://digital.liby.waikato.ac.nz/bppnz?a=d&c=despatch&d=HASH01a9e0d3df5904a2a0d800ce

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Mark Derby, 'Local and regional government - Early forms of local government', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/35300/instructions-on-forming-local-governments-1840 (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Mark Derby, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Feb 2015