New Zealand general election, 1871

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The New Zealand general election of 1871 was held between January 14 and February 1 to elect 78 MPs to the fifth session of the New Zealand Parliament. 41,527 votes were cast.

1871 was the first general election to include the four Māori seats, with elections held on February 1. The first Māori members of parliament had been elected in 1868, but in 1871 three resigned and one (Western Māori) was defeated. So in 1871 four new Māori members of parliament were elected.

In 1866 the secret ballot was introduced for general (European) elections. The 1871 general election was the first one at which it was used.