List of members of the New Zealand Parliament who died in office

The following is a list of New Zealand MPs who died while serving their terms.

Background

When a member dies during their term of office this generally causes a by-election, if the deceased member held an electorate seat. Under the Electoral Act 1993, a by-election is not needed when the death occurs within six months of a general election and if 75% of MPs support the postponement of the by-election. ^[1] General elections may be brought forward to stay within the six-months period. Twice, in 1943 and 1969, by-elections were avoided after the deaths in election years of Paraire Karaka Paikea and Ralph Hanan by passing special acts, the By-election Postponement Act 1943 and the By-election Postponement Act 1969. When a death occurs close enough to a general election, the seat is left vacant, to be filled again at the general election.

If the deceased member held a list seat, the vacancy is filled by the next available person on their party's list. ^[2]

Members who died after Parliament was dissolved after its final session are not listed here. The first time this happened was in 1855 when the 1st New Zealand Parliament was dissolved after its third session on 15 September 1855, with Alfred Christopher Picard dying two days later. ^[3] Job Vile, who had represented the Manawatu electorate during the 15th New Zealand Parliament, died on 6 December 1905. This was the day of the 1905 general election, when he was defeated by John Stevens. ^[4] Most recently, Allan Peachey died six days before the 2011 general election, from which he had withdrawn due to ill health. ^[5]

List of members

Key

  Independent   Conservative   Liberal   Liberal–Labour   Reform   Labour   Independent Labour   United   Independent Liberal   National   Green

Member			Electorate	Date of birth	First elected	Date of death	Age	Cause	Successor
Samuel Stephens [6]			Town of Nelson	1803	1854	26 June 1855	51/52		Alfred Domett Edward Stafford (1855 general election)
William Cutfield King [7]			Grey and Bell	1829	1860	8 February 1861	32	Gunshot	Harry Atkinson (1861 Grey and Bell by-election)
Charles Kettle [8]			Bruce	6 April 1821	1861	5 June 1862	41	Typhoid fever	Edward Cargill (1862 Bruce by-election)
Marmaduke Nixon			Franklin	1813	1861	27 May 1864	51	Gangrene from gunshot wound	Theodore Haultain (1864 Franklin by-election)
George Macfarlan [9]			Lyttelton	1837	1867	9 October 1868	30	Fever	John Thomas Peacock (1868 Lyttelton by-election)
Francis Jollie [10]			Gladstone	1815	1861	30 November 1870	55		George Parker (1871 general election)
John Williamson			City of Auckland West	25 August 1815	1855	16 February 1875	59		Patrick Dignan (1875 City of Auckland West by-election)
George Webster			Wallace		1869	15 July 1875		Inflammation of the brain	Christopher Basstian (1875 Wallace by-election)
William Tolmie			Caversham	1833	1872	8 August 1875	41/42		Robert Stout (1875 Caversham by-election)
Donald McLean [11]			Napier	27 October 1820	1866	5 January 1877	56		Fred Sutton (1877 Napier by-election)
George Henry Tribe			Totara	1828	1871	19 March 1877	48/49		William Gisborne (1877 Totara by-election)
Frederick Teschemaker			Gladstone	1834	1876	21 November 1878	43/44		John Studholme (1879 Gladstone by-election)
Karaitiana Takamoana [lower-alpha 1] [12]			Eastern Maori		1871	24 February 1879			Henare Tomoana (1879 Eastern Maori by-election)
George Ireland [13]			Waikaia	1829	1879	15 August 1880	50/51		Horace Bastings (1880 Waikaia by-election)
Andrew Richmond			Suburbs of Nelson	1832	1861	15 November 1880	48	Heart disease [14]	Arthur Collins (1881 Suburbs of Nelson by-election)
William Sefton Moorhouse			Ashley	c.1825	1853	15 September 1881	55/56	Complications from diabetes	William Fisher Pearson (1881 general election)
James Seaton			Peninsula	May 1822	1875	18 November 1882	60	Horse and buggy accident	William Larnach (1883 Peninsula by-election)
James Rutherford			Bruce	1825	1881	16 May 1883	58		James McDonald (1883 Bruce by-election)
Edward Lee [15]			Selwyn	1822	1883	18 December 1883	60/61		Edward Wakefield (1884 Selwyn by-election)
John Sheehan [16]			Tauranga	5 July 1844	1872	12 June 1885	40	Pneumonia and cirrhosis of the liver	Lawrence Grace (May 1885 Tauranga by-election)
James Benn Bradshaw [17]			Dunedin Central	22 September 1832	1866	1 September 1886	54	Stroke	Thomas Bracken (1886 Dunedin Central by-election)
William John Hurst [13]			Waitemata	1829	1879	29 September 1886	57		Richard Monk (1886 Waitemata by-election)
Te Puke Te Ao [18]			Western Maori	1834	1884	28 October 1886	51/52		Hoani Taipua (1886 Western Maori by-election)
John Coster [19]			Heathcote	1838	1884	17 December 1886	48		Frederic Jones (1887 Heathcote by-election)
James Macandrew [20]			Port Chalmers	1819	1853	25 February 1887	67/68	Died from injuries sustained when he was accidentally thrown from a carriage outside his house	James Mills (1887 Port Chalmers by-election)
Ihaka Hakuene [21]			Northern Maori	1836	1884	6 April 1887	50/51	Food poisoning	Wi Katene (1887 Northern Maori by-election)
William Fisher Pearson			Ashley	1854	1881	3 July 1888	33		John Verrall (1888 Ashley by-election)
Henry Levestam [15]			Nelson	1833	1881	11 February 1889	55/56	Heart attack	Joseph Harkness (1889 Nelson by-election)
William Jackson [10]			Waipa	11 October 1832	1872	29 September 1889	56	Presumed drowning	John Bryce (1889 Waipa by-election)
Richard Turnbull			Timaru	1826	1878	17 July 1890	63/64		William Hall-Jones (1890 Timaru by-election)
Frederic Jones [22]			Heathcote	1832	1887	8 September 1890	58		William Tanner (1890 general election)
Sydney Taiwhanga			Northern Maori	c. 1832	1887	27 November 1890			Eparaima Te Mutu Kapa (1891 Northern Maori by-election)
Douglas Hastings Macarthur [23]			Rangitikei	1839	1884	24 May 1892	52/53		Robert Bruce (1892 Rangitikei by-election)
John Ballance [lower-alpha 2] [12]			Wanganui	27 March 1839	1875	27 April 1893	54	Intestinal disease	Archibald Willis (1893 Wanganui by-election)
Vincent Pyke			Tuapeka	4 February 1827	1873	5 June 1894	67		William Larnach (1894 Tuapeka by-election)
Henry Fish [24]			City of Dunedin	15 July 1838	1881	23 September 1897	59	Throat cancer	Alexander Sligo (1897 City of Dunedin by-election)
William Larnach [15]			Tuapeka	27 January 1833	1875	12 October 1898	65	Suicide by firearm	Charles Rawlins (1898 Tuapeka by-election)
Henry Augustus Field [lower-alpha 1] [25]			Otaki	1852	1896	8 December 1899	48		William Hughes Field (1900 Otaki by-election)
William Crowther [26]			City of Auckland	1834	1893	15 March 1900	66	Stomach cancer	Joseph Witheford (1900 City of Auckland by-election)
Arthur Morrison			Caversham	22 November 1846	1893	21 November 1901	54	Throat cancer	Thomas Sidey (1901 Caversham by-election)
John O'Meara			Pahiatua	1856	1896	3 July 1904	47/48	Stroke	Bill Hawkins (1904 Pahiatua by-election)
George Fisher [lower-alpha 1] [24]			City of Wellington	1843	1884	14 March 1905	61/62		Francis Fisher (1905 City of Wellington by-election)
Richard Seddon [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2]			Westland	22 June 1845	1879	10 June 1906	60	Heart attack	Tom Seddon (1906 Westland by-election)
Matthew Kirkbride [7]			Manukau	13 August 1848	1902	4 November 1906	58		Frederic Lang (1906 Manukau by-election)
Edward Smith			Taranaki	10 January 1839	1890	19 April 1907	68		Henry Okey (1907 Taranaki by-election)
James Bennet [27]			Tuapeka	1830	1899	3 May 1908	77/78		William Chapple (1908 Tuapeka by-election)
Hone Heke Ngapua [28]			Northern Maori	6 June 1869	1893	9 February 1909	39		Pita Rangihiroa (Peter Buck) (1909 Northern Maori by-election)
Arthur Remington			Rangitikei	28 July 1856	1902	17 August 1909	53		Robert William Smith (1909 Rangitikei by-election)
Frederick Baume [27]			Auckland East	13 June 1862	1902	14 May 1910	47	Heart failure	Arthur Myers (1910 Auckland East by-election)
Tommy Taylor			Christchurch North	16 June 1862	1896	27 July 1911	49	Perforated gastric ulcer	Leonard Isitt (1911 Christchurch North by-election)
Arthur Guinness [29]			Grey	11 January 1846	1884	10 June 1913	67		Paddy Webb (1913 Grey by-election)
George Laurenson [15]			Lyttelton	1857	1899	19 November 1913			James McCombs (1913 Lyttelton by-election)
James Escott [25]			Pahiatua	17 April 1872	1911	28 July 1916	44		Harold Smith (1916 Pahiatua by-election)
Robert McNab [30]			Hawke's Bay	1 October 1864	1893	3 February 1917	52	Heart failure	John Findlay (1917 Hawkes Bay by-election)
Taare Parata			Southern Maori	1865	1911	8 January 1918	52/53		Hopere Uru (1918 Southern Maori by-election)
Robert Fletcher [31]			Wellington Central	3 July 1863	1914	4 September 1918	55		Peter Fraser (1918 Wellington Central by-election)
Henry Okey			Taranaki	28 May 1857	1907	13 September 1918	61		Sydney George Smith (1918 Taranaki by-election)
Alfred Hindmarsh [32]			Wellington South	18 April 1860	1911	13 November 1918	58	Spanish flu	Bob Semple (1918 Wellington South by-election)
David Buick [33]			Palmerston	29 April 1848	1908	18 November 1918	70	Spanish flu	Jimmy Nash (1918 Palmerston by-election)
James Colvin [19]			Buller	1844	1899	29 October 1919	74/75	Tram crash	Harry Holland (1919 general election)
William MacDonald [23]			Bay of Plenty	1862	1908	31 August 1920	57/58	Heart attack	Kenneth Williams (1920 Bay of Plenty by-election)
Walter Powdrell [34]			Patea	1872	1919	9 March 1921	48/49	Fall from a building	Edwin Dixon (1921 Patea by-election)
Hopere Uru [lower-alpha 1]			Southern Maori	26 March 1868	1918	29 November 1921	53	Bright's disease	Henare Uru (1922 Southern Maori by-election)
Edward Kellett [8]			Dunedin North	7 November 1864	1919	15 May 1922	57		Jim Munro (1922 Dunedin North by-election)
William Herries [32]			Tauranga	19 April 1859	1896	22 February 1923	63		Charles Macmillan (1923 Tauranga by-election)
William Massey [lower-alpha 2] [35]			Franklin	26 March 1856	1894	10 May 1925	69	Cancer	Ewen McLennan (1925 Franklin by-election)
Richard Bollard [36]			Raglan	23 May 1863	1911	25 August 1927	64	Pneumonia	Lee Martin (1927 Raglan by-election)
Māui Pōmare			Western Maori	1875	1911	27 June 1930	54	Tuberculosis	Taite Te Tomo (1930 Western Maori by-election)
Joseph Ward [lower-alpha 1]			Invercargill	26 April 1856	1887	8 July 1930	74	Heart failure	Vincent Ward (1930 Invercargill by-election)
George Hunter [13]			Waipawa	1859	1896	20 August 1930	70/71		Albert Jull (1930 Waipawa by-election)
Arthur Hall [21] [37]			Hauraki	3 August 1880	1928	18 April 1931	50	intracerebral hemorrhage	Walter William Massey (1931 Hauraki by-election)
Tuiti Makitanara [38]			Southern Maori	8 August 1874	1928	24 June 1932	57		Eruera Tirikatene (1932 Southern Maori by-election)
George Black [36]			Motueka	21 November 1903	1928	17 October 1932	28	Suicide by cyanide	Keith Holyoake (1932 Motueka by-election)
James McCombs [lower-alpha 1] [23]			Lyttelton	9 December 1873	1913	2 August 1933	59	Heart failure	Elizabeth McCombs (1933 Lyttelton by-election)
Harry Holland [32]			Buller	10 June 1868	1918	8 October 1933	65	Heart attack	Paddy Webb (1933 Buller by-election)
Elizabeth McCombs [lower-alpha 1] [23]			Lyttelton	19 November 1873	1933	7 June 1935	61		Terry McCombs (1935 Lyttelton by-election)
Jeremiah Connolly [19]			Mid-Canterbury	1875	1931	2 October 1935	59/60		Horace Herring (1935 general election)
Ted Howard [39]			Christchurch South	18 June 1868	1919	26 April 1939	70		Robert Macfarlane (1939 Christchurch South by-election)
Michael Joseph Savage [lower-alpha 2]			Auckland West	23 March 1872	1919	27 March 1940	68	Colon cancer	Peter Carr (1940 Auckland West by-election)
Albert Jull [22]			Waipawa	6 December 1864	1930	24 September 1940	75		Cyril Harker (1940 Waipawa by-election)
Jack Lyon [20]			Waitemata	15 February 1898	1935	26 May 1941	43	Killed in action	Mary Dreaver (1941 Waitemata by-election)
Gordon Hultquist [39]			Bay of Plenty	1904	1935	1 November 1941	36/37	Influenza	Bill Sullivan (1941 Bay of Plenty by-election)
John Manchester Allen [40]			Hauraki	3 August 1901	1938	28 November 1941	40	Killed in action	Andy Sutherland (1942 Hauraki by-election)
Arthur Grigg [lower-alpha 1] [29]			Mid-Canterbury	1896	1938	29 November 1941	44/45	Killed in action	Mary Grigg (1942 Mid-Canterbury by-election)
Thomas Burnett [41]			Temuka	25 November 1877	1919	30 November 1941	64		Jack Acland (1942 Temuka by-election)
Tim Armstrong [18]			Christchurch East	28 September 1875	1922	8 November 1942	67	Heart disease	Mabel Howard (1943 Christchurch East by-election)
Paraire Karaka Paikea [lower-alpha 1]			Northern Maori	1 June 1894	1938	6 April 1943	48		Tapihana Paraire Paikea (1943 general election)
Alfred Ransom			Pahiatua	19 March 1868	1922	22 May 1943	75		Keith Holyoake (1943 general election)
Gordon Coates			Kaipara	3 February 1878	1911	27 May 1943	65	Heart failure	Clifton Webb (1943 general election)
James Hargest [42]			Awarua	4 September 1891	1931	12 August 1944	52	Killed in action	George Richard Herron (1944 Awarua by-election)
Toko Ratana [lower-alpha 1]			Western Maori	21 July 1894	1935	30 October 1944	50		Matiu Ratana (1945 Western Maori by-election)
Frank Findlay [24]			Hamilton	1884	1943	31 March 1945	60/61	Heart attack	Hilda Ross (1945 Hamilton by-election)
Jim Munro			Dunedin North	22 February 1870	1922	27 May 1945	75		Robert Walls (1945 Dunedin North by-election)
Robert Coulter [26]			Raglan	1891	1935	31 December 1945	54		Hallyburton Johnstone (1946 Raglan by-election)
Harry Atmore [12]			Nelson	14 December 1870	1911	20 August 1946	75		Edgar Neale (1946 general election)
Peter Carr [43]			Auckland West	1884	1940	18 October 1946	61/62		Seat abolished
Dan Sullivan			Avon	18 July 1882	1919	8 April 1947	64	Coronary artery disease	Jock Mathison (1947 Avon by-election)
Arthur Shapton Richards			Mount Albert	1877	1931	5 August 1947	69/70		Warren Freer (1947 Mount Albert by-election)
James O'Brien			Westland	8 June 1874	1922	28 September 1947	73		Jim Kent (1947 Westland by-election)
Matiu Ratana [lower-alpha 1]			Western Maori	16 December 1912	1945	7 October 1949	36	Car accident	Iriaka Rātana (1949 general election)
Peter Fraser [44]			Brooklyn	28 August 1884	1918	12 December 1950	66	Heart attack	Arnold Nordmeyer (1951 Brooklyn by-election)
Robert Walls			North Dunedin	18 September 1884	1945	6 November 1953	69		Ethel McMillan (1953 North Dunedin by-election)
Arthur Osborne			Onehunga	14 March 1891	1936	15 November 1953	62		Hugh Watt (1953 Onehunga by-election)
Harry Combs [19]			Onslow	14 January 1881	1938	12 June 1954	73		Henry May (1954 Onslow by-election)
David Campbell Kidd [8]			Waimate	29 September 1889	1938	23 September 1954	64		Alfred Davey (1954 general election)
Angus McLagan [11]			Riccarton	1891	1946	4 September 1956	64/65		Mick Connelly (1956 Riccarton by-election)
Hilda Ross			Hamilton	6 July 1883	1945	6 March 1959	75		Lance Adams-Schneider (1959 Hamilton by-election)
William Gillespie [45]			Hurunui	14 August 1893	1943	23 April 1961	67	Heart attack	Lorrie Pickering (1961 Hurunui by-election)
Thomas Hayman [28]			Waitaki	24 May 1904	1949	2 January 1962	57	Heart attack	Allan Dick (1962 Waitaki by-election)
Jerry Skinner			Buller	19 January 1900	1938	26 April 1962	62		Bill Rowling (1962 Buller by-election)
Tapihana Paraire Paikea			Northern Maori	26 January 1920	1943	7 January 1963	42		Matiu Rata (1963 Northern Maori by-election)
James Deas [46]			Otahuhu	1890	1954	27 January 1963	72/73	Bronchitis	Bob Tizard (1963 Otahuhu by-election)
Fred Hackett [21]			Grey Lynn	11 November 1901	1943	19 March 1963	61	Brain disease	Reginald Keeling (1963 Grey Lynn by-election)
Eruera Tirikatene [lower-alpha 1]			Southern Maori	5 January 1895	1932	11 January 1967	72		Whetu Tirikatene (1967 Southern Maori by-election)
Mick Moohan [47]			Petone	27 April 1899	1946	7 February 1967	67	Cancer	Fraser Colman (1967 Petone by-election)
Harry Lake [7]			Fendalton	29 September 1911	1951	21 February 1967	55	Heart attack	Eric Holland (1967 Fendalton by-election)
Puti Tipene Watene			Eastern Maori	18 August 1910	1963	14 June 1967	56	Heart attack	Paraone Reweti (1967 Eastern Maori by-election)
Bill Brown [33]			Palmerston North	18 June 1899	1960	16 October 1967	68		Joe Walding (1967 Palmerston North by-election)
Walter Nash			Hutt	12 February 1882	1929	4 June 1968	86	Heart attack	Trevor Young (1968 Hutt by-election)
Ralph Hanan [21]			Invercargill	13 June 1909	1946	24 July 1969	60	Injuries received in World War Two	John Chewings (1969 general election)
Tom Shand			Marlborough	16 April 1911	1946	11 December 1969	58	Lung cancer	Ian Brooks (1970 Marlborough by-election)
Norman Kirk [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] [7]			Sydenham	6 January 1923	1957	31 August 1974	51	Pulmonary embolism	John Kirk (1974 Sydenham by-election)
Stan Whitehead			Nelson	8 October 1907	1957	9 January 1976	68	Heart attack	Mel Courtney (1976 Nelson by-election)
Roy Jack [13]			Rangitikei	12 January 1914	1954	24 December 1977	63		Bruce Beetham (1978 Rangitikei by-election)
Bruce Barclay [48]			Christchurch Central	21 October 1922	1969	28 June 1979	56	Cancer	Geoffrey Palmer (1979 Christchurch Central by-election)
Frank Rogers			Onehunga	27 December 1933	1975	25 April 1980	46	Stroke	Fred Gerbic (1980 Onehunga by-election)
Basil Arthur			Timaru	18 September 1928	1962	1 May 1985	56	Legionnaires' disease	Maurice McTigue (1985 Timaru by-election)
Bruce Townshend			Kaimai	21 November 1931	1978	25 April 1987	55		Robert Anderson (1987 general election)
Rod Donald			List	10 October 1957	1996	6 November 2005	48	Myocarditis	Nándor Tánczos (Appointment)
Parekura Horomia			Ikaroa-Rāwhiti	9 November 1950	1999	29 April 2013	62		Meka Whaitiri (2013 Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election)
Efeso Collins			List	27 May 1974	2023	21 February 2024	49 [49]		Lawrence Xu-Nan (Appointment)

Footnotes

1. Succeeded by family member.
2. Prime Minister at time of death.

Notes

1. "Power to resolve in certain cases that by-election not be held". Parliamentary Counsel Office . Retrieved 6 April 2019.
2. "Method of supplying vacancy". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
3. Wilson 1985, pp. 137, 226.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 242.
5. McGillivray, Amy (7 November 2011). "Tamaki MP Allan Peachey dies". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
6. Wilson 1985, p. 236.
7. Wilson 1985, p. 211.
8. Wilson 1985, p. 210.
9. Wilson 1985, p. 215.
10. Wilson 1985, p. 208.
11. Wilson 1985, p. 216.
12. Wilson 1985, p. 181.
13. Wilson 1985, p. 207.
14. "Nelson Evening Mail". Nelson Evening Mail . Vol. XV, no. 227. 16 November 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
15. Wilson 1985, p. 212.
16. Wilson 1985, p. 234.
17. Wilson 1985, p. 185.
18. Wilson 1985, p. 180.
19. Wilson 1985, p. 190.
20. Wilson 1985, p. 213.
21. Wilson 1985, p. 202.
22. Wilson 1985, p. 209.
23. Wilson 1985, p. 214.
24. Wilson 1985, p. 196.
25. Wilson 1985, p. 195.
26. Wilson 1985, p. 191.
27. Wilson 1985, p. 183.
28. Wilson 1985, p. 204.
29. Wilson 1985, p. 201.
30. Wilson 1985, p. 217.
31. Wilson 1985, p. 197.
32. Wilson 1985, p. 205.
33. Wilson 1985, p. 186.
34. Wilson 1985, p. 227.
35. Wilson 1985, p. 219.
36. Wilson 1985, p. 184.
37. "Death of an MP: Mr. A. W. Hall of Hauraki". The New Zealand Herald . 18 April 1931. Retrieved 15 February 2020– via Papers Past.
38. Wilson 1985, p. 218.
39. Wilson 1985, p. 206.
40. Wilson 1985, p. 179.
41. Wilson 1985, p. 187.
42. Wilson 1985, p. 203.
43. Wilson 1985, p. 188.
44. Wilson 1985, p. 198.
45. Wilson 1985, p. 199.
46. Wilson 1985, p. 192.
47. Wilson 1985, p. 221.
48. Wilson 1985, p. 182.
49. "Green MP Efeso Collins dies after collapsing at Auckland charity event". 1 News. Retrieved 20 February 2024.

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC   154283103.