John Ollivier (25 March 1812 – 31 July 1893) was a Member of Parliament in New Zealand, but was better known for his membership of the Canterbury Provincial Council.

The most popular work that he published was Eothen; or Traces of travel brought home from the East by Alexander William Kinglake.

[6] The family came to New Zealand on the John Taylor; the ship left London on 10 July 1853 and arrived in Lyttelton on 18 October.

[15] William Sefton Moorhouse announced his candidacy months later, was less experienced and the worse public speaker of the two candidates.

[18] Ollivier contested the seat of Christchurch Country against Crosbie Ward, following the resignation of Dingley Askham Brittin.

On the first occasion, the resignation of Arthur O'Callaghan from the Lincoln electorate on 9 November 1888[24] caused the 16 January 1889 by-election between Ollivier and Alfred Saunders.

[27][28] The resignation of Sir Julius Vogel caused the 19 June 1889 by-election in the Christchurch North electorate, contested by three candidates.

Edward Humphreys beat Ollivier by a small margin, with Eden George (a later mayor of Christchurch) coming a distant third.