The speaker of the Legislative Council was the chair of New Zealand's appointed upper house, the Legislative Council. The office corresponded roughly to that of speaker of the House of Representatives. The functions of the speaker included presiding over debates held in the chamber of the Council, and advising the legislative councillors on procedural rules. The position was abolished in 1951, along with the Legislative Council itself.
Holders of the office Eighteen people held the office of speaker since the creation of the Legislative Council. Two had previously been premier, and another went on to serve in that office; one had previously been speaker of the House of Representatives. A comprehensive list of speakers is below.
Key
†: died in office
No. Name PortraitIn officeGovernment 1William Swainson 16 May 1854 8 August 1855 pre-responsible government 2 Frederick Whitaker1 8 August 1855 12 May 1856 Sewell Ministry3Thomas Bartley 12 May 1856 1 July 1868 first Fox Ministry first Stafford Ministry second Fox Ministry Domett Ministry Whitaker–Fox Ministry Weld Ministry second Stafford Ministry 4 John Richardson 1 July 1868 6 December 1878†third Fox Ministry third Stafford Ministry Waterhouse Ministry fourth Fox Ministry first Vogel Ministry Pollen Ministry second Vogel Ministry first Atkinson Ministry second Atkinson Ministry Grey Ministry 5 William Fitzherbert3 14 June 1878 22 April 1887† Hall Ministry Whitaker Ministry third Atkinson Ministry first Stout–Vogel Ministry fourth Atkinson Ministry second Stout–Vogel Ministry 6 George Waterhouse2 22 April 1887 21 September 1887 (5) William Fitzherbert 2nd time 21 September 1887 23 January 1891 Scarecrow Ministry 7 Harry Atkinson2 23 January 1891 28 June 1892† Liberal Government 8 Henry Miller 8 July 1892 6 October 1897 6 October 1897 9 July 1903 9 William Walker 9 July 1903 5 January 1904† 10 John Rigg (acting) 5 January 1904 7 July 1904 11 Alfred Cadman 7 July 1904 23 March 1905† 12 Richard Reeves (acting) 23 March 1905 30 June 1905 13 Charles Bowen 30 June 1905 4 July 19104 4 July 1910 4 July 1915 Reform Government 14 Charles Johnston 7 July 1915 13 June 1918† 15 Walter Carncross 1 November 1918 10 July 19244 10 July 1924 10 July 19294 United Government 10 July 1929 10 July 19344 United–Reform Coalition 10 July 1934 18 July 1939 First Labour Government 16 Mark Fagan 18 July 1939 2 August 19444 2 August 1944 31 December 1947† 17 Bernard Martin 29 June 1948 8 March 1950 First National Government 18 Thomas Bishop 15 March 1950 31 December 1951 1 Later served as premier. 2 Previously served as premier. 3 Previously speaker of the House of Representatives. 4 Reappointed at end of member's term. † Speaker died in office.
See also Constitution of New Zealand New Zealand Legislative Council
References