Provinces of New Zealand: Key Dates, Event, and Provinces List

Provinces of New Zealand

New Zealand has 10 provinces: Auckland, New Plymouth, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Let's take a brief discussion of all the New Zealand Provinces:

1. Auckland: The Auckland province was formed as New Ulster on 17 January 1853 and dissolved on 1 November 1876.
2. New Plymouth: The New Plymouth province was formed as New Ulster on 17 January 1853 and dissolved on 1 November 1876.
3. Hawke's Bay: The Hawke's Bay province was formed from Wellington on 1 November 1858 and dissolved on 1 November 1876.
4. Wellington: The Wellington province was formed as New Munster on 17 January 1953, and it the dissolved on 1 November 1876.
5. Nelson: The Nelson province was formed as New Munster on 17 January 195,3 and dissolved on 1 November 1876.
6. Marlborough: The Marlborough province was formed as Nelson on 1 November 1859 and dissolved on 1 November 1876.
7. Westland: The Westland province was formed as Canterbury on 1 December 1873 and dissolved on 1 November 1876.
8. Canterbury: The Canterbury province was formed as New Munster on 17 January 1853 and dissolved on 1 November 1876.
9. Otago: The Otago province was formed as New Munster on 17 January 1853 and dissolved on 1 November 1876.
10. Southland: The Southland province was formed as Otago on 25 March 1861 and dissolved on 5 October 1870.

Key Dates & Events:

1841 – New Zealand becomes a separate British colony, independent from New South Wales.

1852 – The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 (UK) is passed:

• Formally establishes 6 original provinces: Auckland, New Plymouth (later Taranaki), Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago.
• Each province has its own elected Superintendent and Provincial Council.

1853 – First provincial elections are held.

1858–1873 – Four new provinces are created due to population growth and regional interests:

• Hawke’s Bay (1858)
• Marlborough (1859)
• Southland (1861)
• Westland (1873)

1876 – The abolition of provinces:

• Under the Abolition of Provinces Act 1875, provinces were officially dissolved on 1 January 1877.
• Their powers and responsibilities were transferred to a centralized national government and new counties and boroughs.