Between April and June 1868 the first four Maori MPs were elected to New Zealand's Parliament. Despite ongoing debate, the Maori seats remain a distinctive feature of this country's electoral landscape 140 years later.
The lobby, around 1900. The lobby was the centre of parliamentary life. Here, bets were made and tricks played, and the more boisterous Member of Parliament sometimes put on the odd impromptu sporting or wrestling match as well.
The final gathering of the Legislative Council, 1 December 1950. Just before 6 p.m. the members linked arms in the centre of the chamber and sang 'Auld lang syne' and the national anthem before leaving.
Hear a re-enactment of a day in New Zealand's first Parliament. This is a re-enactment of a somewhat farcical confrontation in the first session of Parliament in 1854 when the governor attempted to prorogue Parliament as the issue of responsible government became vexed.
The well-known dandy Jackson Palmer, Member of Parliament for Waitemata, plays to the ladies' gallery in 1893. The ladies' gallery was located opposite the Speaker, supposedly not to distract Members of Parliament when speaking.
New Zealand's Parliament dates back to 1854, just 14 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and the beginning of the European settlement of the country. For most of its history as a nation state, New Zealand has had some form of elected government.
Today there are two parts to Parliament – the House of Representatives (or the Lower House) and the Governor-General, but between 1854 and 1951 there was a third part, the Legislative Council (or the Upper House).
Troops of the Second Echelon of 2NZEF and sailors of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve parade at Parliament, Wellington, on 27 April 1940, shortly before their departure.
It started with a bang – 21 in fact, fired from the guns at Auckland's Fort Britomart. As soon as the smoke had cleared, New Zealand's first Parliament was under way.
For centuries, politics and Parliament have been the subject of public comment, satire and humour. Almost since the beginning, New Zealand's Parliament has been portrayed through the eyes of cartoonists, whose work appeared in newspapers and magazines.
Painters and photographers loved to capture the beauty of Parliament's buildings in postcards, and New Zealanders and visitors sent these to friends and family in new Zealand and overseas.
In 1990 New Zealand's first Maori Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves (1985–90) (right), swore in ministers in the newly elected National government of Jim Bolger (third from right); the Cabinet secretary and clerk of the Executive Council
Premier Richard Seddon sleeps at the Table of the House while the Old-age Pensions Bill is in Committee of the Whole House on the night of 23 September 1898.
New Zealand's early politicians encouraged Parliament to adopt the traditions of the British Parliament so that New Zealand's Parliament would be invested with great dignity.
This clip shows Speaker Algie, Members of Parliament being called by the division bells for another sitting and the procession into the chamber with the Serjeant-at-Arms carrying the mace.
The snap election of 1984 brought in a new Labour government. The clip shows Members of Parliament assembling and the election of Speaker Sir Basil Arthur.
As Parliament contemplates building the Beehive a century after moving to Wellington, protest against New Zealand's involvement in the Vietnam War mounts and is felt at Parliament.
Charles Wheeler, long-standing press gallery reporter from the turn of the 20th century and parliamentary commentator, is at the microphone for the first broadcast of Parliament, 25 March 1936.
Te Roopu Ote Matakite leader Mr Whakataka greeting the acting speaker, Hon Jonathon Hunt, with a challenge before the steps of Parliament, 20 October 1975
Cartoonists and illustrators have a field day with distinctive physical characteristics of politicians. Weight, nose, hairstyle, beards or any particular style of dress are played up.
Joseph Ward takes his place on the government benches as prime minister in 1906. The mace, donated by retired Speaker Clifford in 1866, lies on the Table of the House.
There was a sharp edge to the cartoons that touched on public attitudes towards politics and politicians, especially as cartoonists themselves sought to offer a social commentary in their work.
The remodelled grounds hosted many grand public events. The Duke and Duchess of York on their Royal Tour in 1901 arrive at the main entrance of Parliament to be welcomed by Premier Seddon and crowds of onlookers.
No satirist could resist the temptation to draw the obvious conclusions from Members of Parliament talking a lot of hot air in the stuffy and poorly ventilated Parliament Buildings during the 1930s.
Anything new in the House came in for comment in the newspapers. In 1933 when Elizabeth McCombs took her seat as the first woman in Parliament, there was much fussing about what she would wear.
After the fire of 1907, this building housed Parliament, and the governor lived at Palmerston North until the new (present) Government House was ready. It was demolished in November 1969 to make way for the Beehive.
Like salaries and 'perks', the behaviour of Members of Parliament in the chamber of the House has featured prominently in cartoons. The 19th-century politician Robert Stout had a reputation for being a windbag and talking endlessly in convoluted and erudite speeches that drove his colleagues to distraction.
The cartoonist for the New Zealand Herald recognised the irony of a new Speaker's chair being presented to Parliament in 1951 at a time when the buildings themselves were in disrepair.
Panorama of the debating chamber of the House of Representatives. Includes commentary by John O'Sullivan, former General Manager of the Parliamentary Service
Panorama of the Ayes lobby of the House of Representatives. Includes commentary by John O'Sullivan, former General Manager of the Parliamentary Service
Panorama of the galleries of the debating chamber of the House of Representatives. Includes commentary by John O'Sullivan, former General Manager of the Parliamentary Service
