1861–1862 Fox Ministry

Last updated February 06, 2024

The Second Fox Ministry was a responsible government which held power in New Zealand from July 1861 to August 1862. Although William Fox was the head of the government, he was never appointed Premier as that office had yet to be established. Instead, he was Attorney-General and then Colonial Secretary.^[1]

Background

The Second Fox Ministry took power after winning a motion of no confidence against Edward Stafford by two votes amid rising tensions with the Kingitanga movement.^[2] The new government survived another no-confidence motion a month later, surviving by reconstructing the Cabinet with the absence of Isaac Featherston and John Williamson – it had been argued by the Opposition that they were ineligible for office in the central government as they were both Provincial Superintendents.^[3] Even without the Superintendents, Fox's ministry was highly provincialist in policy, amending the New Provinces Act to prevent existing provinces from splintering into non-viable local entities.^[2]

The major crisis of New Zealand politics in the 1860s was the Māori question, with Fox leading the 'Peace Party' which was purported to prefer a non-violent resolution to the dispute with the Waikato iwi.^[4] This would involve incorporating Māori into Pākeha-style constitutional institutions such as local councils or Rūnanga.^[4] Previously, Māori policy had been reserved to the Governor, but now Governor Grey convinced the ministry to take on responsibility for this aspect of national politics.^[5] To Fox's surprise, the British government responded by giving notice that the New Zealand colonial government would have to fund their own military defences against Māori, while the Imperial troops would be withdrawn.^[2]

This ultimatum had the impact of weakening the authority of the Fox Ministry, and Stafford was able to defeat the government in a no-confidence vote a year after Fox had taken office, although only by means of the Speaker's casting vote. Stafford declined to form a new government and Grey appointed Alfred Domett instead.^[6]

Ministers

The following members served in the Fox Ministry:^[7]

Name	Office	Term
William Fox	Attorney-General	12 July 1861 – 2 August 1861
William Fox	Colonial Secretary	2 August 1861 – 6 August 1862
Isaac Featherston	Colonial Secretary	12 July 1861 – 2 August 1861
Reader Wood	Colonial Treasurer	12 July 1861 – 6 August 1862
Reader Wood	Commissioner of Customs	12 July 1861 – 6 August 1862
Walter Mantell	Minister of Native Affairs	12 July 1861 – 18 December 1861
John Williamson	Member of Executive Council	12 July 1861 – 2 August 1861
Thomas Henderson	Member of Executive Council	12 July 1861 – 6 August 1862
Daniel Pollen, MLC	Member of Executive Council	20 July 1861 – 6 August 1862
Henry Sewell, MLC	Attorney-General	2 August 1861 – 6 August 1862
Crosbie Ward	Postmaster-General	2 August 1861 – 6 August 1862
Crosbie Ward	Secretary for Crown Lands	2 August 1861 – 6 August 1862
Lt.-Gen. Duncan Cameron	Member of Executive Council	22 April 1861 – 6 August 1862

Notes

↑ Wilson, J. O. (James Oakley) (1985). New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. p. 61.
1 2 3 McLintock, Alexander Hare; William Parker Morrell, M. A. (N Z. ); Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "FOX, Sir William". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
↑ Bohan, Edmund (1994). Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman. Hazard Press. p. 166.
1 2 Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Sewell, Henry". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
↑ Bohan, Edmund (1994). Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman. Hazard Press. p. 173.
↑ Bohan, Edmund (1994). Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman. Hazard Press. pp. 175–6.
↑ Wilson, J. O. (1985). Parliamentary Record of New Zealand (4th ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. p. 61.

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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.

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[1] Wilson, J. O. (James Oakley) (1985). New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. p. 61.

[:0-2] 1 2 3 McLintock, Alexander Hare; William Parker Morrell, M. A. (N Z. ); Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "FOX, Sir William". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 4 November 2022.

[3] Bohan, Edmund (1994). Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman. Hazard Press. p. 166.

[:1-4] 1 2 Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Sewell, Henry". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 November 2022.

[5] Bohan, Edmund (1994). Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman. Hazard Press. p. 173.

[6] Bohan, Edmund (1994). Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman. Hazard Press. pp. 175–6.

[7] Wilson, J. O. (1985). Parliamentary Record of New Zealand (4th ed.). Wellington: Government Printer. p. 61.

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v t e Governments of New Zealand
Executives without power	Fitzgerald Forsaith
Responsible government	Sewell Fox (first) Stafford (first) Fox (second) Domett Whitaker–Fox Weld Stafford (second) Fox (third) Stafford (third) Waterhouse Fox (fourth) Vogel (first) Pollen Vogel (second) Continuous Ministry Atkinson (first) Atkinson (second) Grey Hall Whitaker Atkinson (third) Stout–Vogel (first) Atkinson (fourth) Stout–Vogel (second) Atkinson (fifth)
Governments along party lines	Liberal (1891–1912) Reform (1912–1928) United (1928–1931) United–Reform coalition (1931–1935) First Labour (1935–1949) First National (1949–1957) Second Labour (1957–1960) Second National (1960–1972) Third Labour (1972–1975) Third National (1975–1984) Fourth Labour (1984–1990) Fourth National (1990–1999) Fifth Labour (1999–2008) Fifth National (2008–2017) Sixth Labour (2017–2023) Sixth National (Current)