John Bryce

John Bryce (14 September 1833 – 17 January 1913) was a New Zealand politician from 1871 to 1891 and Minister of Native Affairs from 1879 to 1884. In his attitudes to Māori land questions, he favoured strict legal actions against Māori opposed to alienation, and he directed the invasion of Parihaka and the arrest of the movement's leaders.

Described as stubborn and embittered to Māori questions, Bryce was the public face of a harsh policy towards Māori, but the Premier and other cabinet members supported his actions.

Early political career

In 1859, Bryce started his political career. By 1862 he was representing his area in the Wellington Provincial Council, and by 1866 was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wanganui, a position he held for only a year before resigning due to ill-health.

Minister of Native Affairs

In 1871, Bryce was back in Parliament as MP for Wanganui to 1881, and then MP for Waitotara until 1887. From 1876 to 1879, he chaired the Native Affairs Committee and, between 1879 and 1883, was the Minister of Native Affairs. He expanded the powers of the Native Land Court to facilitate the sale of Māori land, reduced the scope of the Native Department, and enforced the law against any Māori resisting land confiscation and sales. These actions made him deeply unpopular with Māori, and Bishop Octavius Hadfield reported that west coast Māori called him Bryce kohuru (Bryce the murderer).

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