Skip to main content

Story: Colonial and provincial government

North Island counties, 1881

In 1876 counties replaced the provinces in rural areas. They were intended to build roads and bridges. In many instances road boards continued to do that work and were constituted as counties. With expanding settlement the 32 North Island counties in 1876 had become 76 by 1921.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: MapColl -830fb 1881 29305

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.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Colonial and provincial government – Julius Vogel and the abolition of provincial government, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/35491/north-island-counties-1881 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 5 April 2012.