A report on New Zealand Legislative Council

Before 1951, there was an upper chamber, the New Zealand Legislative Council.

The House of Representatives was created by the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 (effective 1853), an Act of the British Parliament, which established a bicameral legislature; however the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, was abolished in 1950.

The "suicide squad" was the group of New Zealand Legislative Councillors appointed in 1950 by Prime Minister Sidney Holland tasked with voting the New Zealand Legislative Council out of existence.

The bicameral General Assembly (often referred to as Parliament, but not officially so called until 1986), consisting of the governor, a legislative council and a House of Representatives;

In 1893, the premier gained the ability to restrict the term of appointments to the Legislative Council.

The new parliamentary session is marked by the opening of parliament, during which the governor-general delivers the 'Speech from the Throne' in the Legislative Council Chamber, outlining the Government's legislative agenda.

Agnes Louisa Weston (née Steuart, 18 January 1879 – 8 August 1972) from Wellington was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950.

Ethel Marion Gould (née Hirst; 2 February 1895 – 9 March 1992) from Auckland was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950.

She was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950, one of three woman members of the suicide squad appointed by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for its abolition.

Abolished the Legislative Council (Upper House), thus making New Zealand's parliament unicameral; see Suicide squad.