From April to June 1867, Blackett was appointed onto the Executive of the Nelson Provincial Council.
[3] There were attempts to persuade Blackett to stand for election as Superintendent, but he did not consent.
[1] Under Sir Julius Vogel's great Public Works policy he was responsible for road construction throughout the colony from 1870 to 1878; under John Carruthers the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department who was responsible for railway construction.
[5] He was responsible for the location, design and construction of 14 lighthouses around the New Zealand coastline.
[8] The John Blackett Prize was established under the will of his artist daughter, Isabel Mary Houston, and is awarded to outstanding engineering students at the University of Canterbury.