<P> Capital punishment in New Zealand first appeared in a codified form when it became a British territory in 1840, and was first employed in 1842 . It was last used in 1957, abolished for murder in 1961, and abolished altogether, including for treason, in 1989 . During the period that it was in effect, 85 people were executed . </P> <P> The method of execution was always by hanging . At first, there were many possible execution sites all around the country, but later, the only two cities where hangings were carried out were Wellington (the capital) and Auckland (now the largest city). Initially, there was no professional hangman employed--the executioner was simply chosen from among any who were deemed qualified . On occasion, convicted criminals were employed as hangmen, often in exchange for reduced sentences or monetary reward . In 1877, the sheriff of Blenheim recommended that a professional executioner be hired . Tom Long, an Irishman who claimed to have been an executioner in Australia, was hired as the first official hangman . He was the only official hangman to be publicly known; others remained anonymous . </P>

When was death penalty abolished in new zealand