# List of speakers of the New Zealand Legislative Council

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

Independent  Liberal  IPLL  Reform  United  Labour  National
†: died in office
| No. | Name | In office | In office | Government |
| 1 | William Swainson | 16 May 1854 | 8 August 1855 | pre-responsible government |
| 2 | Frederick Whitaker$^1$ | 8 August 1855 | 12 May 1856 | pre-responsible government |
| 2 | Frederick Whitaker$^1$ | 8 August 1855 | 12 May 1856 | Sewell Ministry |
| 3 | Thomas Bartley | 12 May 1856 | 1 July 1868 | Sewell Ministry |
| 3 | Thomas Bartley | 12 May 1856 | 1 July 1868 | first Fox Ministry first Stafford Ministry second Fox Ministry Domett Ministry Whitaker–Fox Ministry Weld Ministry |
| 3 | Thomas Bartley | 12 May 1856 | 1 July 1868 | second Stafford Ministry |
| 4 | John Richardson | 1 July 1868 | 6 December 1878† | 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 |
| 4 | John Richardson | 1 July 1868 | 6 December 1878† | Grey Ministry |
| 5 | William Fitzherbert$^3$ | 14 June 1878 | 22 April 1887† | Grey Ministry |
| 5 | William Fitzherbert$^3$ | 14 June 1878 | 22 April 1887† | Hall Ministry Whitaker Ministry third Atkinson Ministry first Stout–Vogel Ministry fourth Atkinson Ministry |
| 5 | William Fitzherbert$^3$ | 14 June 1878 | 22 April 1887† | second Stout–Vogel Ministry |
| 6 | George Waterhouse$^2$ | 22 April 1887 | 21 September 1887 | second Stout–Vogel Ministry |
| (5) | William Fitzherbert 2nd time | 21 September 1887 | 23 January 1891 | second Stout–Vogel Ministry |
| (5) | William Fitzherbert 2nd time | 21 September 1887 | 23 January 1891 | Scarecrow Ministry |
| 7 | Harry Atkinson$^2$ | 23 January 1891 | 28 June 1892† | Liberal Government |
| 8 | Henry Miller | 8 July 1892 | 6 October 1897 | Liberal Government |
| 8 | Henry Miller | 6 October 1897 | 9 July 1903 | Liberal Government |
| 9 | William Walker | 9 July 1903 | 5 January 1904† | Liberal Government |
| 10 | John Rigg (acting) | 5 January 1904 | 7 July 1904 | Liberal Government |
| 11 | Alfred Cadman | 7 July 1904 | 23 March 1905† | Liberal Government |
| 12 | Richard Reeves (acting) | 23 March 1905 | 30 June 1905 | Liberal Government |
| 13 | Charles Bowen | 30 June 1905 | 4 July 1910$^4$ | Liberal Government |
| 13 | Charles Bowen | 4 July 1910 | 4 July 1915 | Liberal Government |
| 13 | Charles Bowen | 4 July 1910 | 4 July 1915 | Reform Government |
| 14 | Charles Johnston | 7 July 1915 | 13 June 1918† | Reform Government |
| 15 | Walter Carncross | 1 November 1918 | 10 July 1924$^4$ | Reform Government |
| 15 | Walter Carncross | 10 July 1924 | 10 July 1929$^4$ | Reform Government |
| 15 | Walter Carncross | 10 July 1924 | 10 July 1929$^4$ | United Government |
| 15 | Walter Carncross | 10 July 1929 | 10 July 1934$^4$ | United Government |
| 15 | Walter Carncross | 10 July 1929 | 10 July 1934$^4$ | United–Reform Coalition |
| 15 | Walter Carncross | 10 July 1934 | 18 July 1939 | United–Reform Coalition |
| 15 | Walter Carncross | 10 July 1934 | 18 July 1939 | First Labour Government |
| 16 | Mark Fagan | 18 July 1939 | 2 August 1944$^4$ | First Labour Government |
| 16 | Mark Fagan | 2 August 1944 | 31 December 1947† | First Labour Government |
| 17 | Bernard Martin | 29 June 1948 | 8 March 1950 | First Labour Government |
| 17 | Bernard Martin | 29 June 1948 | 8 March 1950 | First National Government |
| 18 | Thomas Bishop | 15 March 1950 | 31 December 1951 | First National Government |
$^1$ 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.