John Ballance, who led the Liberals to power in 1890, was called ‘the rainmaker’ by voters relieved to see the return of prosperity.
John Ballance
Personal details
Full Name:
John Ballance
Lifetime:
27 Mar 1839 – 27 Apr 1893
Premier:
24 Jan 1891–27 Apr 1893
Age on becoming Premier:
51
Electorate:
Wanganui
Political Party:
Liberal
Biography
Events In History
27 April 1893
Ballance was the first Liberal premier. He laid the foundation for a government that was widely seen as making New Zealand ‘the social laboratory of the world’.
11 March 1884
Forty delegates from six regional associations met in Dunedin to adopt a constitution and elect the first officeholders in the new organisation.
Main image: John Ballance
John Ballance (1839–1893) became Colonial Treasurer in 1878, and in 1884 he became Native Minister in the Stout–Vogel ministry.