[2] He came to New Zealand on the Mary Anne; the ship left the West India Docks in London in September 1841 and arrived in Nelson Harbour on 10 February 1842.

[3][4] Having brought a printing press with him,[5] Elliott established The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle in 1842; this was the first newspaper in the South Island.

[5] He published texts written by the suffragist Mary Müller, to whom he was related through marriage, in his newspaper.

[9] In parallel, he represented the Awatere electorate in the Marlborough Provincial Council from 16 April 1860 to 16 October 1861.

[10] On 5 November 1855, Elliott—alongside William Travers—was elected unopposed to represent the Waimea electorate in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament.