Parliament first convened on 24 May 1854,[1] and on 21 June of that year, Auckland lawyer Frederick Merriman was elected as its first Chairman of Committees.
[2] The role also existed for the Legislative Council, was established in 1865 and first held by Mathew Richmond.
That year, the position of Deputy Speaker was made official under the Standing Orders, and the role of Chairman of Committees was discontinued.
[7] The following is a list of Chairmen of Committees of the House of Representatives:[8][9] Key Independent Liberal Reform United Labour National 1 Also served as Speaker The position of Deputy Chairman of Committees was created in 1975.
[11] After the role of chairman was replaced by that of Deputy Speaker in 1992, the third presiding officer of the House continued to be known as the deputy chairman for several more years,[12][13] until the final holder of the office, Peter Hilt, became the first MP to be appointed Assistant Speaker on 21 February 1996.