County of Hawke was a 19th century parliamentary electorate in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament in 1860.[1]
In 1858 the General Assembly made some significant changes to electoral boundaries[2] and increased parliamentary representation from 37 members to 41. One of the changes meant Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay electorate was split into its two separate components (with both Wairarapa and County of Hawke expanding inland into unincorporated areas). County of Hawke was represented by two Members of Parliament, James Burne Ferguson, incumbent in the seat as member for the previous Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay electorate and Thomas Henry FitzGerald from 26 April to 5 November in 1860 after winning the 1860 by-election. A nomination meeting was held on 26 April 1860. FitzGerald was proposed and seconded. Another person (Richard John Duncan) was proposed, but no seconder was present. A third person (William Colenso) was proposed and seconded, but declared that he didn't want to stand. The returning officer advised that Colenso could not withdraw once he had been seconded. After addressing the electors, a show of hands was called for, and the returning officer declared the result to be in favour of FitzGerald. One of the attendees then proposed a formal vote, but this was not seconded. The returning officer thus declared FitzGerald duly elected.[3]
The second Parliament was dissolved on 5 November, and Fitzgerald did not seek election to the new Parliament. He had been elected Superintendent of the new Hawke's Bay Province in 1859. He moved to Queensland, Australia in 1862.
The electorate had been formed following a redistribution of electoral boundaries agreed upon in 1858, with an increase in the number of seats and the formation of several new electorates. The Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay electorate was split into its two separate components, and Hawkes Bay expanded inland into unincorporated areas.
In 1861, the new Napier seat was formed in Hawke's Bay.
| Election | Winner | |
| 1860 by-election | Thomas Henry FitzGerald (Independent) | |