Ngāti Kahungunu leader James Carroll, a 'half-caste' in the language of the times, became the first Māori to win a general (European) seat when he triumphed in Waiapu in 1893. He served as a Cabinet minister in the Liberal government and was to remain in Parliament until 1919, representing first Waiapu and then from 1908 the new electorate of Gisborne. With the formal separation of the European and Māori electoral systems in 1896, he was to be the last Māori to hold a general (European) seat until 1975.

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Reference: F-50150-1/2

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