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Story: Voting rights

Election hustings, Christchurch, 1853

Elections were a fine addition to the social calendar. This drawing of the election of Canterbury’s first provincial superintendent shows a large crowd at the hustings. Along the bottom of the drawing artist Alfred Charles Barker has noted the results: ‘Fitzgerald 135 Tancred 89 Campbell 94’. The winner, James FitzGerald, introduced responsible government to the province – government that is accountable to the legislature, and through the legislature to voters.

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Canterbury Museum

Reference: 1949.29.9

by Alfred Charles Barker

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Neill Atkinson, Voting rights – First voting rights, 1852, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/36424/election-hustings-christchurch-1853 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Neill Atkinson, published 1 June 2012.