Thomas Mason (New Zealand politician)

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Thomas Mason in 1882

Thomas Mason (28 July 1818 – 11 June 1903) was a New Zealand quaker, runholder, horticulturalist and Member of Parliament.

Biography[edit]

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1879–1881 7th Hutt Independent
1881–1884 8th Hutt Independent

He was born in York, Yorkshire, England, on 28 July 1818.[1] He attended Bootham School, York.[2]

He was not elected in the 1879 by-election for the Hutt, but was successful in the subsequent general election. He represented the Hutt electorate from 1879 to 1884, when he was defeated.[3]

A dramatic scene with Mason centre on the floor over Jane Mason, singing to a group of Māori warriors with weapon pointed at him.
Thomas Mason (played by Nicky Spence) in the opera Hōhepa. Also Jenny Wollerman who plays Jane Mason (on floor) Phillip Rhodes (L) who plays Hōhepa and chorus (March 2012).

He was chairman of both the Wellington Botanic Garden Board and Hutt County Council. Mason Street in the Lower Hutt suburb of Moera was named after him.[4]

His daughter, Elizabeth Catherine Mason, was the mother of Thomas Wilford.[5] Mason died at his home in the Hutt and was buried at Taita Cemetery.[6][7]

In 2012 the New Zealand International Arts Festival premiered the opera Hōhepa composed by Jenny McLeod about the relationship between Mason and Māori chief Hōhepa Te Umuroa. The opera is set in the Hutt Valley where they met and also Tasmania, Australia.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Brodie, James W. "Mason, Thomas". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  2. ^ Bootham Old Scholars Association (2011). Bootham School Register. York, England: BOSA.
  3. ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 218. OCLC 154283103.
  4. ^ "Mason Street". NZ Street Names. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  5. ^ Butterworth, Susan. "Wilford, Thomas Mason – Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Death of Mr. Thos. Mason". The Evening Post. Vol. LXV, no. 137. 11 June 1903. p. 6. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Wellington items". Lyttelton Times. Vol. CIX, no. 13151. 12 June 1903. p. 6. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  8. ^ FITZSIMONS, TOM (14 March 2012). "Kiwi opera Hohepa takes centre stage". Stuff. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hutt
1879–1884 		Succeeded by


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