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On 17 January 1853, the New Zealand Constitution Act (UK) of 1852 was declared operative by Governor Sir George Grey. The Constitution Act established a system of representative government for New Zealand. The legislation created six provinces with elected superintendents and provincial councils. At the national level, a General Assembly was established, which consisted of a Legislative Council appointed by the Crown and a House of Representatives elected every five years by males over the age of 21 who owned, leased or rented property of a certain value. The previous system of government was put in place in 1846 and provided a complicated three-tiered system or the colony. Grey was the driving force behind the 1852 Act, and the legislation gave him considerable power to determine the details of electoral administration - the timing of elections, the drawing of electoral boundaries, the process for registering voters and rules for the orderly, effective and impartial conduct of voting. The first general election was held between July and October 1853.

Up until 1853, the Governor held unrestrained powers as the representative of Imperial Government in the colony of New Zealand, subject only to the control exerted by the distant British government. With the establishment of representative government in 1853 the Governor was required to act on the advice of his ministers in purely colonial matters. He gradually took on a primary role as constitutional head of the Colonial government. The Governor was still able to act independently on any matters which he considered to be of Imperial interest. Thus the Governor retained control of Native Affairs until around 1870. The Governor also retained important constitutional powers, such the appointment of members of the Legislative Council, the dissolution of Parliament, the reservation of bills for Imperial assent, and prerogative of mercy. Prior to 1875 each new Governor was issued with Commissions of appointment (Letters Patent) and Royal Instructions. The Governor was also responsible for administering the Letters Patent for New Zealand and other Royal Instructions. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the Governor's remaining powers were gradually watered down, until by 1907 they could be exercised only on ministerial advice

Shown above are records from the Governor series Inwards Despatches from the Secretary of State: G1 121. This series of despatches includes explanations of statutes and executives acts, instructions for the use of the powers conferred on the Governor, notifications of the confirmation or disallowance of acts of the local legislature, comments on social, economic and political developments in the colony, expressions of approval or disapproval of the Governor's actions, answers to questions asked by the Governor, and instructions as to the policies to be adopted on particular subjects. The records relating to the Governor series span the period from 1840 to 1963. These records can be seen in our Wellington Reading Room.

Further information about Governor Grey can be found at NZ History: www.nzhistory.net.nz/george-grey-leaves-nz-for-cape-colony www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/history-of-the-governor-gen... www.nzhistory.net.nz/proclamation-of-1852-constitution-act

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