# 1884 New Zealand general election

The 1884 New Zealand general election was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 (60.6%) voters turned out to vote. In 11 seats there was only one candidate.

## 1881 electoral redistribution

The same 95 electorates that were defined through the 1881 electoral redistribution were used for the 1884 election. The next electoral redistribution was held in 1887 in preparation for the 1887 election.

## Government formation

Prior to the election Harry Atkinson had served as Premier since 1883. His government was unpopular at the time and the polls went against him. Only 32 of the returned Members supported him whilst 57 opposed his government as well as 6 independents. Soon after the election his government fell in August 1884 after Robert Stout successfully passed a vote of no confidence and assumed the premiership with the support of Julius Vogel. A strong counter-offensive by Atkinson enabled him to unseat Stout again after only twelve days. Stout, however, was not so easily defeated, and took the Premiership again after seven days. This time, Stout held his position for three years, defeating Atkinson's attempts to oust him.

## Results

The following table shows the results of the 1884 general election.
| Electorate incumbent | Elected member defeated candidates | MP's term |
| Bay of Islands Held by R Hobbs | Richard Hobbs | Third |
| Bay of Islands Held by R Hobbs | 2nd: M Gannon 3rd: F MacKenzie | Third |
| Marsden Held by E Mitchelson | Edwin Mitchelson | Second |
| Marsden Held by E Mitchelson | Unopposed | Second |
| Rodney Held by S George | William Moat | First |
| Rodney Held by S George | 2nd: N Wilson | First |
| Waitemata Held by W Hurst | William Hurst | Third |
| Waitemata Held by W Hurst | 2nd: A Farnell | Third |
| Auckland North Held by T Peacock | Thomas Thompson | First |
| Auckland North Held by T Peacock | 2nd:J Newman | First |
| Auckland West Held by J McM Dargaville | Joseph Dargaville | Second |
| Auckland West Held by J McM Dargaville | 2nd:W Swanson | Second |
| Auckland East Held by G Grey | George Grey | Fifth |
| Auckland East Held by G Grey | Unopposed | Fifth |
| Newton Held by W Swanson | Thomas Peacock | Second |
| Newton Held by W Swanson | 2nd: C de Lautour | Second |
| Parnell Held by FJ Moss | Frederick Moss | Fourth |
| Parnell Held by FJ Moss | 2nd:ST George | Fourth |
| Eden Held by J Tole | Joseph Tole | Fourth |
| Eden Held by J Tole | 2nd: J O'Neil | Fourth |
| Manukau Held by M O'Rorke | Maurice O'Rorke | Seventh |
| Manukau Held by M O'Rorke | 2nd: F Lawry | Seventh |
| Franklin North Held by B Harris | Frank Buckland | First |
| Franklin North Held by B Harris | 2nd: J Harris | First |
| Franklin South Held by E Hamlin | Ebenezer Hamlin | Fourth |
| Franklin South Held by E Hamlin | Unopposed | Fourth |
| Coromandel Held by A Cadman | Alfred Cadman | Second |
| Coromandel Held by A Cadman | 2nd: A Brodie | Second |
| Thames Held by J Sheehan | William Fraser | First |
| Thames Held by J Sheehan | 2nd: WJ Speight | First |
| Waikato Held by JB Whyte | John Whyte | Third |
| Waikato Held by JB Whyte | Unopposed | Third |
| Waipa Held by FA Whitaker | Edward Lake | First |
| Waipa Held by FA Whitaker | 2nd: W Jackson | First |
| Tauranga Held by George Morris | GB Morris | Third |
| Tauranga Held by George Morris | 2nd: W Kelly | Third |
| East Coast Held by S Locke | Samuel Locke | Second |
| East Coast Held by S Locke | 2nd: WL Rees | Second |
| Napier Held by J Buchanan | John Ormond | Sixth |
| Napier Held by J Buchanan | 2nd: J Sheehan | Sixth |
| Hawkes Bay Held by F Sutton | William Russell | Third |
| Hawkes Bay Held by F Sutton | 2nd: F Sutton 3rd: A Desmond | Third |
| Waipawa Held by WC Smith | William Smith | Second |
| Waipawa Held by WC Smith | 2nd:T Tanner | Second |
| Rangitikei Held by J Stevens | Robert Bruce | First |
| Rangitikei Held by J Stevens | 2nd: J Stevens | First |
| Manawatu Held by WW Johnston | Douglas Macarthur | First |
| Manawatu Held by WW Johnston | 2nd: D Frazer 3rd: A Burr | First |
| Waitotara Held by J Bryce | John Bryce | Sixth |
| Waitotara Held by J Bryce | 2nd: T McDonnell | Sixth |
| Wanganui Held by WH Watt | John Ballance | Fourth |
| Wanganui Held by WH Watt | 2nd: J Hutchinson 3rd: WH Watt | Fourth |
| New Plymouth Held by T Kelly | Oliver Samuel | First |
| New Plymouth Held by T Kelly | 2nd: EM Smith 3rd: T Kelly 4th: C Brown | First |
| Taranaki Held by R Trimble | Robert Trimble | Third |
| Taranaki Held by R Trimble | 2nd: T Bayly 3rd: J Colesby | Third |
| Egmont Held by HA Atkinson | Harry Atkinson | Seventh |
| Egmont Held by HA Atkinson | 2nd: AA Fantham | Seventh |
| Foxton Held by J Wilson | James Wilson | Second |
| Foxton Held by J Wilson | 2nd: CB Izard 3rd: JR Browne | Second |
| Hutt Held by T Mason | Henry Fitzherbert | First |
| Hutt Held by T Mason | 2nd: T Mason | First |
| Wairarapa North Held by G Beetham | George Beetham | Fourth |
| Wairarapa North Held by G Beetham | 2nd: William Wilson McCardle | Fourth |
| Wairarapa South Held by WC Buchanan | Walter Buchanan | Second |
| Wairarapa South Held by WC Buchanan | 2nd: H Bunny | Second |
| Thorndon Held by W Levin | Alfred Newman | Second |
| Thorndon Held by W Levin | Unopposed | Second |
| Te Aro Held by CJ Johnston | Charles Johnston | Second |
| Te Aro Held by CJ Johnston | 2nd: FH Fraser 3rd: E Shaw 4th: JH Shaw 5th: J O'Shea | Second |
| Wellington South Held by W Hutchinson | George Fisher | First |
| Wellington South Held by W Hutchinson | 2nd: W Hutchinson | First |
| Picton Held by E Connolly | Edward Connolly | Second |
| Picton Held by E Connolly | 2nd: WH Eyes | Second |
| Nelson Held by H Levestam | Henry Levestam | Third |
| Nelson Held by H Levestam | 2nd: J Piper | Third |
| Motueka Held by R Hursthouse | Richmond Hursthouse | Fourth |
| Motueka Held by R Hursthouse | 2nd: J Kerr | Fourth |
| Waimea Held by J Shephard | Joseph Shephard | Fourth |
| Waimea Held by J Shephard | 2nd: W Wastney | Fourth |
| Wairau Held by H Dodson | Henry Dodson | Second |
| Wairau Held by H Dodson | 2nd: J Ward | Second |
| Buller Held by J Munro | Eugene O'Conor | Second |
| Buller Held by J Munro | 2nd: J Munro | Second |
| Inangahua Held by E Shaw | Andrew Menteath | First |
| Inangahua Held by E Shaw | 2nd: RHJ Reeves | First |
| Greymouth Held by J Petrie | Arthur Guinness | First |
| Greymouth Held by J Petrie | 2nd: J Petrie | First |
| Cheviot Held by H McIlraith | James Lance | First |
| Cheviot Held by H McIlraith | 2nd: W Gibson 3rd: GM Adams | First |
| Kumara Held by R Seddon | Richard Seddon | Third |
| Kumara Held by R Seddon | 2nd: E Blake | Third |
| Hokitika Held by GG Fitzgerald | John Bevan | First |
| Hokitika Held by GG Fitzgerald | 2nd: GG Fitzgerald 3rd: J Clarke | First |
| Ashley Held by WF Pearson | William Pearson | Second |
| Ashley Held by WF Pearson | 2nd: P Duncan | Second |
| Kaiapoi Held by E Richardson | Edward Richardson | Fifth |
| Kaiapoi Held by E Richardson | Unopposed | Fifth |
| Avon Held by W Rolleston | Leonard Harper | Second |
| Avon Held by W Rolleston | 2nd: W Dunlop 3rd: Williams | Second |
| St Albans Held By JE Brown | Francis Garrick | First |
| St Albans Held By JE Brown | 2nd: J Jebson 3rd: T Cooper | First |
| Stanmore Held by WH Pilliet | Dan Reese | First |
| Stanmore Held by WH Pilliet | 2nd: G Rudenklau 3rd: G Dorney 4th: WH Pilliet 5th: O Wansey | First |
| Sydenham Held by W White | William White | Second |
| Sydenham Held by W White | 2nd: John Lee Scott | Second |
| Christchurch North Held by H Thomson | Julius Vogel | Fifth |
| Christchurch North Held by H Thomson | 2nd: John Crewes | Fifth |
| Christchurch South Held by J Holmes | John Holmes | Second |
| Christchurch South Held by J Holmes | 2nd: Thomas Joynt | Second |
| Heathcote Held by W Wynn-Williams | John Coster | First |
| Heathcote Held by W Wynn-Williams | 2nd: Henry Wynn-Williams 3rd: James Temple Fisher | First |
| Lyttelton Held by H Allwright | Harry Allwright | Third |
| Lyttelton Held by H Allwright | 2nd: SR Webb 3rd: EM Clissold | Third |
| Akaroa Held by W Montgomery | William Montgomery | Fifth |
| Akaroa Held by W Montgomery | 2nd: FA Anson | Fifth |
| Lincoln Held by AP O'Callaghan | Arthur O'Callaghan | Second |
| Lincoln Held by AP O'Callaghan | 2nd: A Saunders | Second |
| Coleridge Held by D McMillan | David McMillan | Second |
| Coleridge Held by D McMillan | 2nd: J Jebson 3rd: R Tosswill 4th: C Frazer | Second |
| Selwyn Held by E Wakefield | Edward Wakefield | Fourth |
| Selwyn Held by E Wakefield | Unopposed | Fourth |
| Ashburton Held by EG Wright | William Walker | First |
| Ashburton Held by EG Wright | 2nd: JC Wason 3rd: SC Jolly 4th: JRCC Graham | First |
| Wakanui Held by J Ivess | John Grigg | First |
| Wakanui Held by J Ivess | 2nd: J Ivess 3rd: P McQuire | First |
| Geraldine Held by W Postlethwaite | William Rolleston | Sixth |
| Geraldine Held by W Postlethwaite | 2nd: Alfred Cox 3rd: Francis Franks | Sixth |
| Timaru Held by R Turnbull | Richard Turnbull | Fourth |
| Timaru Held by R Turnbull | 2nd: EG Kerr | Fourth |
| Gladstone Held by JH Sutter | James Sutter | Second |
| Gladstone Held by JH Sutter | 2nd: D Anderson 3rd: JM Twomey 4th: G Morris | Second |
| Waimate Held by WJ Steward | William Steward | Third |
| Waimate Held by WJ Steward | 2nd: A Haynes 3rd: WJ Black | Third |
| Waitaki Held by TY Duncan | Thomas Duncan | Second |
| Waitaki Held by TY Duncan | 2nd: D Sutherland 3rd: T Ferens | Second |
| Oamaru Held by SE Shrimski | Samuel Shrimski | Fourth |
| Oamaru Held by SE Shrimski | 2nd: Viscount Reidhaven | Fourth |
| Moeraki Held by J McKenzie | John McKenzie | Second |
| Moeraki Held by J McKenzie | 2nd: Charles Haynes | Second |
| Waikouaiti Held by J Green | John Buckland | First |
| Waikouaiti Held by J Green | 2nd: J Green 3rd: J Arkle | First |
| Port Chalmers Held by J Macandrew | James Macandrew | Ninth |
| Port Chalmers Held by J Macandrew | Unopposed | Ninth |
| Roslyn Held by J Bathgate | Archibald Ross | First |
| Roslyn Held by J Bathgate | 2nd: J Bathgate | First |
| Dunedin West Held by T Dick | William Stewart | Third |
| Dunedin West Held by T Dick | 2nd: T Dick | Third |
| Dunedin East Held by MW Green | Robert Stout | Third |
| Dunedin East Held by MW Green | 2nd: MW Green | Third |
| Dunedin Central Held by T Bracken | James Bradsheigh-Bradshaw | Third |
| Dunedin Central Held by T Bracken | 2nd: T Bracken 3rd: JGS Grant | Third |
| Dunedin South Held by HS Fish | James Gore | First |
| Dunedin South Held by HS Fish | 2nd: Henry Fish | First |
| Peninsula Held by WJM Larnach | William Larnach | Third |
| Peninsula Held by WJM Larnach | 2nd: Owen James Hodge 3rd: John Wells | Third |
| Caversham Held by W Barron | William Barron | Third |
| Caversham Held by W Barron | Unopposed | Third |
| Taieri Held by J Fulton | James Fulton | Third |
| Taieri Held by J Fulton | 2nd: WCF Carncross 3rd: WAW Wathen | Third |
| Mount Ida Held by CA de Lautour | Scobie Mackenzie | First |
| Mount Ida Held by CA de Lautour | 2nd: J Ewing | First |
| Dunstan Held by V Pyke | Vincent Pyke | Fifth |
| Dunstan Held by V Pyke | Unopposed | Fifth |
| Bruce Held by J McDonald | Robert Gillies | First |
| Bruce Held by J McDonald | 2nd: H Driver 3rd: J McDonald | First |
| Tuapeka Held by JC Brown | James Brown | Sixth |
| Tuapeka Held by JC Brown | 2nd: F Oudaille | Sixth |
| Clutha Held by JW Thomson | James Thomson | Fifth |
| Clutha Held by JW Thomson | Unopposed | Fifth |
| Mataura Held by FW Mackenzie | George Richardson | First |
| Mataura Held by FW Mackenzie | 2nd: FW Mackenzie | First |
| Awarua Held by JP Joyce | James Joyce | Third |
| Awarua Held by JP Joyce | 2nd: JL McDonald 3rd: A Kinross 4th: JW Mitchell 5th: T Hodgkinson | Third |
| Invercargill Held by H Feldwick | Joseph Hatch | First |
| Invercargill Held by H Feldwick | 2nd: H Feldwick 3rd: G Lumsden | First |
| Wakatipu Held by T Fergus | Thomas Fergus | Second |
| Wakatipu Held by T Fergus | 2nd: JT Hornsby 3rd: SN Brown | Second |
| Hokonui Held by H Driver | Cuthbert Cowan | Second |
| Hokonui Held by H Driver | 2nd: Frank Stephen Canning 3rd: Justus Hobbs 4th: Thomas James Lumsden | Second |
| Wallace Held by T Daniel | Henry Hirst | Second |
| Wallace Held by T Daniel | 2nd: S Hodgkinson 3rd: T Daniel 4th: M Hayes | Second |
| Northern Maori Held by H Tawhai | Ihaka Hakuene | First |
| Eastern Maori Held by H Tomana | Wi Pere | First |
| Western Maori Held by W Te Wheoro | Te Puke Te Ao | First |
| Western Maori Held by W Te Wheoro | 2nd: Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui see results for six more candidates | First |
| Southern Maori Held by HK Taiaroa | Hōri Kerei Taiaroa | Fifth |