Benjamin Tonks (1832 – 27 June 1884) was a 19th-century mayor and Member of Parliament in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, New Zealand. Tonks was elected to the Parnell electorate of the

Auckland Provincial Council The Auckland Province was a Provinces of New Zealand, province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. Area The province covered roughly half of the North Island of New Zealand. It was the largest of the ...

in 1871. He represented Parnell in the 6th and 7th council until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. He was the

Mayor of Auckland City The Mayor of Auckland City was the directly elected head of the Auckland City Council, the municipal government of Auckland City, New Zealand. The office existed from 1871 to 2010, when the Auckland City Council and mayoralty was abolished and ...

from 1875 to 1876. He defeated the incumbent mayor Frederick Prime 1,062 votes to 402 in the first direct election for the position by the public. At the 1876 by-election which followed the resignation of Sir

George Grey Sir George Grey, KCB (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Gov ...

, he was elected to represent the City of Auckland West electorate. He resigned in 1877. He died at his home in

Remuera Remuera is an affluent suburb in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located four kilometres southeast of the city centre. Remuera is characterised by many large houses, often Edwardian era, Edwardian or mid 20th century. A prime example of a "leafy ...

on 27 June 1884.

References

1832 births 1884 deaths Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Mayors of Auckland 19th-century New Zealand people New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates Members of the Auckland Provincial Council {{NewZealand-mayor-stub