politician, statesman, and prime minister of New Zealand (1864–65), whose “self-reliant” policy was that the colony have full responsibility for the conduct of all Maori affairs, including the settlement of difficulties without help from the crown.

Born into a landed Roman Catholic family and educated at Stonyhurst and the University of Fribourg, Switz., Weld immigrated to New Zealand (1843) and started a sheep station. By 1851 he could afford to make the first of several trips to England and publish a pamphlet, Hints to Intending Sheep Farmers in New Zealand. Becoming involved in the Settlers' Constitutional Association in Wellington, Weld entered politics and was elected to the House of Representatives from Wairau (1853) shortly after Sir George Grey (Grey, Sir George) proclaimed the new Constitution Act. At the first session of the General Assembly, Weld was one of the unofficial executive councillors who undertook to smooth the transition to responsible government (1856), that is, a system under which the colonial governor could act in domestic matters only upon the advice of ministers enjoying the confidence of the elected chamber. He joined the ministry of Stafford as minister for native affairs (1860), and he remained a member of Parliament during the confusion of the next two governments' attempts to negotiate peace with the Maoris while refusing to accept responsibility for all Maori affairs. Anxious to remove the British government from any further involvement, particularly military, Governor Grey asked Weld to form a ministry (1864). During the next year British troops were withdrawn from New Zealand, and large tracts of Maori land were confiscated under the newly passed Native Lands Act (1865) and distributed to European settlers. However, the government's controversial removal of the seat of government from Auckland to Wellington, popular opposition to the self-reliant policy, and Weld's own declining health so weakened his ministry that Weld resigned (1865), did not stand in the next election, and returned to England the following year (1867). Although Weld was asked to return when the Maori conflict resumed (1868), he accepted instead the governorship of Western Australia (1869–75), in which post he undertook important governmental and educational reforms and helped develop the first rail, telegraph, and steamship facilities in the colony. He later was appointed governor of Tasmania (1875–80), where he was chiefly occupied with the feuds and antagonisms of the faction-ridden local government.

Knighted in 1880, Weld accepted appointment as governor of the Straits Settlements, where he consolidated British relations with the native rulers. Later he undertook a mission to Borneo (1887). He died shortly after returning from a visit to the Malay states.