1881 New Zealand General Election

8 (Māori) & 9 (general) December 1881 · The colonial parliaments · 95 seats

1881 was the first time a general election was held under universal male suffrage; all MPs were elected in single-member electorates; and the country quota was introduced, allowing rural electorates to have 25% fewer voters than urban electorates.

Prime Minister before

John Hall

Independent

Prime Minister (continued)

John Hall

Independent

Largest force

Conservative Independents

45 of 95 seats

Turnout

66.5%

The result

Conservative Independents
John Hall · 0 seats
45
seats
Greyite Independents
George Grey · -2 seats
39
seats

11 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.