1852 New Zealand Constitution Act passed

The Constitution Act of 1852 set up New Zealand's parliamentary system and suggested some form of temporary local self-government for Māori. Section 71 said that the "laws, customs and usages of the aboriginal or native inhabitants ... should for the present be maintained for the Government of themselves, in all their relations to and dealings with each other ..." This was not put into effect. Also, since the franchise was based on individual property ownership, Māori, who possessed their land communally, were almost entirely excluded from voting. Six provinces were created in 1852 - Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago - and in 1859 Hawke's Bay and Marlborough were added. Southland was created in 1861, being absorbed by Otago in 1870. Westland was separated from Canterbury in 1873. Each province had its own Superintendent (the equivalent of a Governor) and Provincial Council.