2nd New Zealand Parliament

The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 allowed the General Assembly to add or alter electorates whenever this was desired, and this was first done in 1858 as described below.

The amendment changed the boundaries to some electorates and supplementary elections were held the following year—held between 7 November and 18 December 1859—to fill vacancies.

[2] The turnover of MPs was very high in the 2nd Parliament, with 32 by-elections and a supplementary election being held.

All the previously unincorporated areas in the lower North Island were divided between Wairarapa, County of Hawke, Wanganui and Rangitikei, and Wellington Country.

[30] The western portion of Dunedin Country was split off and became the new Wallace electorate.

The northwest of the South Island remained the colony's only territory not part of an electorate.

[2] At the opening of the 6th session of the Parliament on 10 April 1858,[31] the speaker read out 14 resignations.

[50] He was succeeded by Joseph Hargreaves, who was elected on 5 April 1860, and resigned on 24 July 1860.

[51] Hargreaves was replaced by John Logan Campbell, who was returned unopposed on 4 August 1860.

The first vacancy was filled by John Parkin Taylor, who retired from parliament at the end of this term.

[66] Brown resigned on 14 August 1856[53] to (unsuccessfully) contest the Taranaki superintendency.

He was again elected in 1858 and resigned in 1860, when his militia service required his full attention.

[67] In between Brown's terms, John Lewthwaite (who resigned in 1858) represented the electorate.

The subsequent by-election on 16 April 1860 was won unopposed by James Crowe Richmond.

[69] Greenwood resigned[32] and Captain Jermyn Symonds was elected on 30 April 1858.

[70] Taylor resigned on 13 April 1858 and was succeeded through an 1858 by-election by Theodore Haultain.