Nelson Provincial Gazette
Also known as Government Gazette (Province of Nelson)
Historical Background
Nelson Province was one of the six original provinces established under the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, proclaimed into force on 17 January 1853. It was formed from the northern portion of the former New Munster province, and as originally delimited covered the entire upper South Island — from the Hurunui River in the east to the mouth of the Grey River in the west.
Settlement had been established at Nelson by the New Zealand Company in 1842, making it the second New Zealand Company settlement after Wellington and the first major planned European city in the South Island. The province was named after Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson (similar to nearby Wellington). Nelson Anniversary Day commemorates the arrival of the Fifeshire on 1 February 1842.
Nelson's first Superintendent, Edward Stafford, went on to become one of the more significant figures of early colonial politics, serving as Premier of New Zealand on three separate occasions. He is also credited with establishing the free, secular and compulsory education system that became the model adopted nationally in 1877.
The province lost its north-eastern district when Marlborough separated in 1859, reducing Nelson to roughly the area it retained for the remainder of the provincial era.
Provincial government was abolished under the Abolition of Provinces Act, which took full effect on 1 November 1876.
Digitisation
Prior to May 2026, the Nelson Provincial Gazette was not available online, apart from scattered items reprinted in contemporary Nelson newspapers and available on Papers Past.
Luckily Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (Wellington Central Library) has a comprehensive set of Provincial Gazettes, including Nelson. These were digitised by NZ Gazette Index volunteers Luke and Carole in May and June 2026.
Missing Issues
| Year | Issue No | Notes | Page numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1853 | 1, 5-6 | ||
| 1854 | 3-4, 6, 8, 10, 16 | ||
| 1855 | 7 | ||
| 1856 | 13 | ||
| 1858 | 15 | ||
| 1859 | 6, 8, 13 | ||
| 1862 | 4 | ||
| 1867 | 44 | ||
| 1868 | 27-28 | ||
| 1870 | 24-25, 34 | ||
| 1872 | 4 | ||
| 1874 | 35, 52 |
Map of provincial boundaries, 1873
Further reading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Province
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_New_Zealand
https://teara.govt.nz/en/colonial-and-provincial-government/page-2
Browse by Year
The Nelson Provincial Council Buildings (depicted) were constructed beginning with the laying of the foundation stone on 26 August 1859, with the first Council meeting held there on 30 April 1861. The buildings served Nelson for over a century before being demolished on 12 September 1969.
Nelson Provincial Gazette Statistics
24
Years Covered
741
Issues Processed
2,969
Pages Transcribed
24,258
Names Identified
9,584
Unique Names
5,683
Named Officials
549
Unique Officials
