The 7th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Elections for this term were held in 69 European electorates between 28 August and 15 September 1879. Elections in the four Māori electorates were held on 1 and 8 September of that year. A total of 88 MPs were elected. Parliament was prorogued in November 1881. During the term of this Parliament, two Ministries were in power.

Sessions

The 7th Parliament opened on 24 September 1879, following the 1879 general election. It sat for three sessions, and was prorogued on 8 November 1881.

Historical context

Political parties had not been established yet; this only happened after the 1890 election. Anyone attempting to form an administration thus had to win support directly from individual MPs. This made first forming, and then retaining a government difficult and challenging.

Ministries

The Grey Ministry had been in power since 13 October 1877 during the term of the 6th Parliament. It lasted until 8 October 1879, when the Hall Ministry under Premier John Hall formed a new caucus. This ministry lasted until 21 April 1882, well into the term of the 8th Parliament.

Initial composition of the 7th Parliament

88 seats were created across the electorates.

Changes during term

There were a number of changes during the term of the 7th Parliament.

<!-- ## Existing electorates Walker resigned in 1867. [Henry Tancred](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-tancred-new-zealand-politician) won the subsequent [1867 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1867-ashley-by-election). James Williamson resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by [Patrick Dignan](https://bliptext.com/articles/patrick-dignan). Ward resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by [William Reeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-reeves-journalist), who himself resigned in 1868. [William Rolleston](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-rolleston) won the subsequent 1868 by-election. Cargill resigned in 1870 and was succeeded by [James Clark Brown](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-clark-brown). Burns resigned in 1870 and was succeeded by [James McIndoe](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-mcindoe). FitzGerald resigned in 1867 and was succeeded by [William Travers](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-travers-politician), who himself resigned in 1870. [William Sefton Moorhouse](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-sefton-moorhouse) took the seat for the remaining months in 1870. Paterson resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by [Thomas Birch](https://bliptext.com/articles/thomas-birch-new-zealand). Stafford resigned in 1868 and was succeeded by [Nathaniel Edwards](https://bliptext.com/articles/nathaniel-edwards). Richmond resigned in 1868 and was succeeded by [Arthur Shuckburgh Collins](https://bliptext.com/articles/arthur-collins-politician). Beswick resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by [John Studholme](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-studholme). Baldwin resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by [David Mervyn](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-mervyn). Hull resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by [John Munro](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-munro-new-zealand). Ball resigned in 1870. He was succeeded by [Thomas Gillies](https://bliptext.com/articles/thomas-gillies) on 30 March 1870. Moorhouse was elected in the Mount Herbert electorate on 22 February 1866. He also stood in the [Westland electorate](https://bliptext.com/articles/westland-new-zealand-electorate) and was returned 16 March 1866. He chose to represent Westland. A [by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1866-mount-herbert-by-election) was held on 27 July 1866 and [Thomas Henry Potts](https://bliptext.com/articles/thomas-henry-potts) was returned unopposed. Richardson resigned in 1867 and was succeeded by [Harry Atkinson](https://bliptext.com/articles/harry-atkinson), who himself resigned in 1869. [Thomas Kelly](https://bliptext.com/articles/thomas-kelly-new-zealand-politician) won the [1869 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1869-new-plymouth-by-election). Graham resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by [Robert James Creighton](https://bliptext.com/articles/robert-james-creighton). Henderson resigned in 1867. The 6 July [1867 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1867-northern-division-by-election) was won by [Thomas Macfarlane](https://bliptext.com/articles/thomas-macfarlane). O'Neill resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by [Henry Warner Farnall](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-warner-farnall). Campbell resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by [Charles Christie Graham](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-christie-graham). Atkinson resigned in 1867 and was succeeded in 1868 by [Charles Brown](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-brown-taranaki), who himself resigned in 1870. [Frederic Alonzo Carrington](https://bliptext.com/articles/frederic-alonzo-carrington) was the successful candidate in the [1870 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1870-omata-by-election). Whitaker resigned in 1867 and was succeeded by [Charles Heaphy](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-heaphy). De Quincey resigned in 1867. The 5 August [1867 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1867-pensioner-settlements-by-election) was won by [John Kerr](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-kerr-auckland-politician). A second person, a Mr Jackson, was nominated, but the returning officer would not accept the nomination, as Jackson was not on the electoral roll. Thus, Kerr was declared elected unopposed. Beauchamp resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by [William Adams](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-adams-new-zealand), who himself resigned in 1868. [Courtenay Kenny](https://bliptext.com/articles/courtney-kenny-new-zealand-politician) won the [1868 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1868-picton-by-election). Dick, who was elected on 17 March 1866, resigned on 15 October 1866. He successfully contested the 15 December [1866 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1866-port-chalmers-by-election), but resigned again on 26 April 1867. [David Forsyth Main](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-forsyth-main) successfully contested the [1867 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1867-port-chalmers-by-election). Newman resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by [James Farmer](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-farmer-politician). Watt resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by [William Fox](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-fox-new-zealand), who won the [1868 by-election](https://bliptext.com/articles/1868-rangitikei-by-election). Hepburn resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by [Henry Driver](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-driver). Reid resigned in 1869. He was succeeded by [Henry Howorth](https://bliptext.com/articles/henry-howorth). Cox resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by [Edward Stafford](https://bliptext.com/articles/edward-stafford-politician). Hargreaves resigned in 1868. He was succeeded by [John Thomas Peacock](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-thomas-peacock). Murison resigned in 1868 and was succeeded by [Robert Mitchell](https://bliptext.com/articles/robert-mitchell-new-zealand). Mitchell himself resigned in the following year and was replaced by [Francis Rich](https://bliptext.com/articles/francis-rich). Oliver resigned in 1867. He was succeeded by [Edward Baigent](https://bliptext.com/articles/edward-baigent). McNeil resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by [Cuthbert Cowan](https://bliptext.com/articles/cuthbert-cowan). Cowan himself resigned in the same year he got elected and was replaced by [George Webster](https://bliptext.com/articles/george-webster-new-zealand-politician). The electorate was abolished in 1867. A new electorate (Westland Boroughs) was established, and Moorhouse was transferred to it. ## New electorate [Westland Boroughs](https://bliptext.com/articles/westland-boroughs) was established in 1867, and Moorhouse transferred to it. He resigned in 1868, and [William Henry Harrison](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-henry-harrison-new-zealand-politician) won the resulting by-election. ## Māori electorates The [first elections](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-m-ori-elections) for the new [Māori electorates](https://bliptext.com/articles/m-ori-electorates) were held in 1868. [Tareha te Moananui](https://bliptext.com/articles/tareha-te-moananui) was the first representative for the [Eastern Māori](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-m-ori) electorate. [Frederick Nene Russell](https://bliptext.com/articles/frederick-nene-russell) was the first representative for the [Northern Māori](https://bliptext.com/articles/northern-m-ori) electorate. [John Patterson](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-patterson-new-zealand) was the first representative for the [Southern Māori](https://bliptext.com/articles/southern-m-ori) electorate. [Mete Paetahi](https://bliptext.com/articles/mete-paetahi) was the first representative for the [Western Māori](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-m-ori) electorate. -->