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Story: Colonial and provincial government

South Island counties, 1881

In 1876 counties replaced provincial government in rural areas. In 1921 the South Island had 52 counties, compared with 31 in 1876. Most of the increase took place in Canterbury, where eight counties had become 26.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: NZ Map 189

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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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/35492/south-island-counties-1881 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 5 April 2012.