John Shera

John Shera
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for City of Auckland
In office 1890–1893
Personal details
Born	1840 Ireland
Died	19 September 1906 Auckland, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Jemima Balneavis

John McEffer Shera (1840 – 19 September 1906) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in Auckland, New Zealand.

Biography

Early life

Shera was born in Ireland in 1840.[1] He sailed to Australia in 1867 before continuing on to New Zealand a year later. He landed in Auckland and found work as a share broker.[1] He married a daughter of Henry Balneavis, Jemima Balneavis, at St. Paul's Church in April 1873.[2] His wife was part-Māori and Shera ensured that Māori women were included in the electoral reform bill that granted women's suffrage.[3]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1890–1893	11th	City of Auckland			Liberal

Shera represented the City of Auckland multi-member electorate from 1890 to 1893, when he was defeated.[4] He had previously stood unsuccessfully in 1887 for the Auckland West electorate.[5] He was a strong supporter of Sir George Grey.[6]

He stood unsuccessfully in the 1902 election for the Parnell seat as an Independent Liberal.[7]

Later life and death

Shera died on 19 September 1906 at his residence in Remuera, Auckland.[8]

Notes

1. Hamer 1988, p. 366.
2. "Untitled". Auckland Star. Vol. IV, no. 1013. 17 April 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
3. Binney, Judith, ed. (1968). The Shaping of History: Essays from the New Zealand Journal of History. Bridget Williams Books. p. xiii.
4. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 234. OCLC 154283103.
5. "The General Election, 1887". National Library. 1887. pp. 1–4. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
6. "New Members". Evening Star. 6 December 1890 – via Papers Past.
7. The General Election, 1902. National Library. 1903. p. 1. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
8. "Death of Mr J M Shera". Auckland Star. Vol. XXXVII, no. 225. 20 September 1906. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

References

• Hamer, David A. (1988). The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912. Auckland: Auckland University Press. ISBN 1-86940-014-3.