# 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. 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.
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. 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. Most recently, Allan Peachey died six days before the 2011 general election, from which he had withdrawn due to ill health.

## 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 | Town of Nelson | 1803 | 1854 | 26 June 1855 | 51/52 | | Alfred Domett Edward Stafford (1855 general election) |
| William Cutfield King | Grey and Bell | 1829 | 1860 | 8 February 1861 | 32 | Gunshot | Harry Atkinson (1861 Grey and Bell by-election) |
| Charles Kettle | 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 | Lyttelton | 1837 | 1867 | 9 October 1868 | 30 | Fever | John Thomas Peacock (1868 Lyttelton by-election) |
| Francis Jollie | 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 | 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 | Eastern Maori | | 1871 | 24 February 1879 | | | Henare Tomoana (1879 Eastern Maori by-election) |
| George Ireland | 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 | 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 | Selwyn | 1822 | 1883 | 18 December 1883 | 60/61 | | Edward Wakefield (1884 Selwyn by-election) |
| John Sheehan | 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 | Dunedin Central | 22 September 1832 | 1866 | 1 September 1886 | 54 | Stroke | Thomas Bracken (1886 Dunedin Central by-election) |
| William John Hurst | Waitemata | 1829 | 1879 | 29 September 1886 | 57 | | Richard Monk (1886 Waitemata by-election) |
| Te Puke Te Ao | Western Maori | 1834 | 1884 | 28 October 1886 | 51/52 | | Hoani Taipua (1886 Western Maori by-election) |
| John Coster | Heathcote | 1838 | 1884 | 17 December 1886 | 48 | | Frederic Jones (1887 Heathcote by-election) |
| James Macandrew | 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 | 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 | Nelson | 1833 | 1881 | 11 February 1889 | 55/56 | Heart attack | Joseph Harkness (1889 Nelson by-election) |
| William Jackson | 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 | 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 | Rangitikei | 1839 | 1884 | 24 May 1892 | 52/53 | | Robert Bruce (1892 Rangitikei by-election) |
| John Ballance | 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 | City of Dunedin | 15 July 1838 | 1881 | 23 September 1897 | 59 | Throat cancer | Alexander Sligo (1897 City of Dunedin by-election) |
| William Larnach | Tuapeka | 27 January 1833 | 1875 | 12 October 1898 | 65 | Suicide by firearm | Charles Rawlins (1898 Tuapeka by-election) |
| Henry Augustus Field | Otaki | 1852 | 1896 | 8 December 1899 | 48 | | William Hughes Field (1900 Otaki by-election) |
| William Crowther | 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 | City of Wellington | 1843 | 1884 | 14 March 1905 | 61/62 | | Francis Fisher (1905 City of Wellington by-election) |
| Richard Seddon | Westland | 22 June 1845 | 1879 | 10 June 1906 | 60 | Heart attack | Tom Seddon (1906 Westland by-election) |
| Matthew Kirkbride | 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 | Tuapeka | 1830 | 1899 | 3 May 1908 | 77/78 | | William Chapple (1908 Tuapeka by-election) |
| Hone Heke Ngapua | 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 | 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 | Grey | 11 January 1846 | 1884 | 10 June 1913 | 67 | | Paddy Webb (1913 Grey by-election) |
| George Laurenson | Lyttelton | 1857 | 1899 | 19 November 1913 | | | James McCombs (1913 Lyttelton by-election) |
| James Escott | Pahiatua | 17 April 1872 | 1911 | 28 July 1916 | 44 | | Harold Smith (1916 Pahiatua by-election) |
| Robert McNab | 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 | 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 | Wellington South | 18 April 1860 | 1911 | 13 November 1918 | 58 | Spanish flu | Bob Semple (1918 Wellington South by-election) |
| David Buick | Palmerston | 29 April 1848 | 1908 | 18 November 1918 | 70 | Spanish flu | Jimmy Nash (1918 Palmerston by-election) |
| James Colvin | Buller | 1844 | 1899 | 29 October 1919 | 74/75 | Tram crash | Harry Holland (1919 general election) |
| William MacDonald | Bay of Plenty | 1862 | 1908 | 31 August 1920 | 57/58 | Heart attack | Kenneth Williams (1920 Bay of Plenty by-election) |
| Walter Powdrell | Patea | 1872 | 1919 | 9 March 1921 | 48/49 | Fall from a building | Edwin Dixon (1921 Patea by-election) |
| Hopere Uru | Southern Maori | 26 March 1868 | 1918 | 29 November 1921 | 53 | Bright's disease | Henare Uru (1922 Southern Maori by-election) |
| Edward Kellett | Dunedin North | 7 November 1864 | 1919 | 15 May 1922 | 57 | | Jim Munro (1922 Dunedin North by-election) |
| William Herries | Tauranga | 19 April 1859 | 1896 | 22 February 1923 | 63 | | Charles Macmillan (1923 Tauranga by-election) |
| William Massey | Franklin | 26 March 1856 | 1894 | 10 May 1925 | 69 | Cancer | Ewen McLennan (1925 Franklin by-election) |
| Richard Bollard | 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 | Invercargill | 26 April 1856 | 1887 | 8 July 1930 | 74 | Heart failure | Vincent Ward (1930 Invercargill by-election) |
| George Hunter | Waipawa | 1859 | 1896 | 20 August 1930 | 70/71 | | Albert Jull (1930 Waipawa by-election) |
| Arthur Hall | Hauraki | 3 August 1880 | 1928 | 18 April 1931 | 50 | intracerebral hemorrhage | Walter William Massey (1931 Hauraki by-election) |
| Tuiti Makitanara | Southern Maori | 8 August 1874 | 1928 | 24 June 1932 | 57 | | Eruera Tirikatene (1932 Southern Maori by-election) |
| George Black | Motueka | 21 November 1903 | 1928 | 17 October 1932 | 28 | Suicide by cyanide | Keith Holyoake (1932 Motueka by-election) |
| James McCombs | Lyttelton | 9 December 1873 | 1913 | 2 August 1933 | 59 | Heart failure | Elizabeth McCombs (1933 Lyttelton by-election) |
| Harry Holland | Buller | 10 June 1868 | 1918 | 8 October 1933 | 65 | Heart attack | Paddy Webb (1933 Buller by-election) |
| Elizabeth McCombs | Lyttelton | 19 November 1873 | 1933 | 7 June 1935 | 61 | | Terry McCombs (1935 Lyttelton by-election) |
| Jeremiah Connolly | Mid-Canterbury | 1875 | 1931 | 2 October 1935 | 59/60 | | Horace Herring (1935 general election) |
| Ted Howard | Christchurch South | 18 June 1868 | 1919 | 26 April 1939 | 70 | | Robert Macfarlane (1939 Christchurch South by-election) |
| Michael Joseph Savage | Auckland West | 23 March 1872 | 1919 | 27 March 1940 | 68 | Colon cancer | Peter Carr (1940 Auckland West by-election) |
| Albert Jull | Waipawa | 6 December 1864 | 1930 | 24 September 1940 | 75 | | Cyril Harker (1940 Waipawa by-election) |
| Jack Lyon | Waitemata | 15 February 1898 | 1935 | 26 May 1941 | 43 | Killed in action | Mary Dreaver (1941 Waitemata by-election) |
| Gordon Hultquist | Bay of Plenty | 1904 | 1935 | 1 November 1941 | 36/37 | Influenza | Bill Sullivan (1941 Bay of Plenty by-election) |
| John Manchester Allen | Hauraki | 3 August 1901 | 1938 | 28 November 1941 | 40 | Killed in action | Andy Sutherland (1942 Hauraki by-election) |
| Arthur Grigg | Mid-Canterbury | 1896 | 1938 | 29 November 1941 | 44/45 | Killed in action | Mary Grigg (1942 Mid-Canterbury by-election) |
| Thomas Burnett | Temuka | 25 November 1877 | 1919 | 30 November 1941 | 64 | | Jack Acland (1942 Temuka by-election) |
| Tim Armstrong | Christchurch East | 28 September 1875 | 1922 | 8 November 1942 | 67 | Heart disease | Mabel Howard (1943 Christchurch East by-election) |
| Paraire Karaka Paikea | 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 | Awarua | 4 September 1891 | 1931 | 12 August 1944 | 52 | Killed in action | George Richard Herron (1944 Awarua by-election) |
| Toko Ratana | Western Maori | 21 July 1894 | 1935 | 30 October 1944 | 50 | | Matiu Ratana (1945 Western Maori by-election) |
| Frank Findlay | 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 | Raglan | 1891 | 1935 | 31 December 1945 | 54 | | Hallyburton Johnstone (1946 Raglan by-election) |
| Harry Atmore | Nelson | 14 December 1870 | 1911 | 20 August 1946 | 75 | | Edgar Neale (1946 general election) |
| Peter Carr | 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 | Western Maori | 16 December 1912 | 1945 | 7 October 1949 | 36 | Car accident | Iriaka Rātana (1949 general election) |
| Peter Fraser | 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 | Onslow | 14 January 1881 | 1938 | 12 June 1954 | 73 | | Henry May (1954 Onslow by-election) |
| David Campbell Kidd | Waimate | 29 September 1889 | 1938 | 23 September 1954 | 64 | | Alfred Davey (1954 general election) |
| Angus McLagan | 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 | Hurunui | 14 August 1893 | 1943 | 23 April 1961 | 67 | Heart attack | Lorrie Pickering (1961 Hurunui by-election) |
| Thomas Hayman | 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 | Otahuhu | 1890 | 1954 | 27 January 1963 | 72/73 | Bronchitis | Bob Tizard (1963 Otahuhu by-election) |
| Fred Hackett | Grey Lynn | 11 November 1901 | 1943 | 19 March 1963 | 61 | Brain disease | Reginald Keeling (1963 Grey Lynn by-election) |
| Eruera Tirikatene | Southern Maori | 5 January 1895 | 1932 | 11 January 1967 | 72 | | Whetu Tirikatene (1967 Southern Maori by-election) |
| Mick Moohan | Petone | 27 April 1899 | 1946 | 7 February 1967 | 67 | Cancer | Fraser Colman (1967 Petone by-election) |
| Harry Lake | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Rangitikei | 12 January 1914 | 1954 | 24 December 1977 | 63 | | Bruce Beetham (1978 Rangitikei by-election) |
| Bruce Barclay | 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 | | Lawrence Xu-Nan (Appointment) |

## Footnotes

* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Succeeded by family member.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Prime Minister at time of death.