Death of Richard Seddon

10 June 1906

Richard Seddon's funeral procession, Wellington, 1906
Richard Seddon's funeral procession, Wellington, 1906 (Alexander Turnbull Library, 1/2-077673-G)

Known as ‘King Dick’, Seddon had dominated New Zealand politics since the early 1890s.

The Liberal government that he headed as Premier from 1893 established the tradition of state-supported welfare in this country.

Seddon died at sea while returning from Australia to what he called ‘God’s own country’.