Martin Lightband (20 January 1832 – 1 August 1914) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand. Early life Born in Worcester, England, on 20 January 1832, he arrived at Nelson in 1842 on the Thomas Harrison with his parents, Mary Ann and George Wales Lightband. Lightband was 10 years old when he arrived. He lived in Nelson almost his entire life, except for a brief stay in Christchurch. In 1857, his father was part of the group of Nelson settlers eager to set up a newspaper in opposition to the Nelson Examiner that was influenced in its editorial policy by large landowners. Lightband Sr. travelled to Sydney, obtained a printing press and engaged the printer William Nation to come to Nelson with his family. Consequently, the Colonist was supportive of members of the Lightband family while the Nelson Examiner was not. Business interests Lightband worked in his father's tanning business as a tanner. Later he went into partnership with Benjamin Jackson as boot, shoe, and leather merchants. In 1865 the partnership was dissolved and Lightband continued on his own in premises in Collingwood Street. In 1858 he was one of the founders of the Nelson Coal Mining Company and was involved in the development of the Pakawau coal mine. Lightband was elected a director of the unsuccessful Culliford Gold Mining Company in 1869 and in 1870 was one of the provisional directors of the Nelson Patent Slip Company. In 1896 Lightband started in business as a grain merchant. On 25 April 1888 he helped found the Nelson Bowling Club and his own lawn was used for matches until the club's greens were completed later in 1888. Political career Lightband took a keen interest in Imperial, colonial, and local affairs. He was asked to stand in a by-election in the Buller electorate of Nelson Province in 1867, but declined. The budget of 1870 provoked heated discussion in Nelson and a public meeting was called to condemn it. Lightband spoke in the budget's favour and after further debate the meeting ended with those attending supporting the budget. Lightband, in absentia, was put forward as a candidate for the 1871 election. He was described by Mr Burns, who nominated him, as a thorough hardworking, painstaking, straightforward businessman. Mr Tregea seconded the nomination. The candidates for election were Oswald Curtis, Lightband, James Crowe Richmond, and Joseph Shephard. Polling day was 6