Andrews first tried to get elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council in 1867, but he narrowly missed out. He was the first working class candidate. He was elected to the 6th provincial council on 29 July 1872, narrowly defeating John Cracroft Wilson and his victory was celebrated by carrying him through the streets. He was the first working-class man to be elected onto the Canterbury Provincial Council. He was re-elected in 1874, gaining two more votes than Henry Tancred, who was also elected. Andrews served until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. Andrews first stood for Parliament in the 1875 general election in the three member City of Christchurch electorate. The working men's vote was split by Jerningham Wakefield, and Andrews came fourth, trailing Edward Stevens, Edward Richardson and William Sefton Moorhouse. Andrews contested the next 1879 general election. This time, he proved successful, coming second equal with Edward Stevens, just behind George Grey and only 23 votes ahead of Edward Richardson. He was the first working class person to be elected to Parliament in New Zealand. He represented Christchurch until the end of the term in 1881. The City of Christchurch electorate was abolished in 1881, and Andrews stood in the Christchurch North electorate against Henry Thomson, who gained 577 votes against 466 votes for Andrews; Thomson was thus returned. When William White resigned from the Sydenham electorate in March 1886 on medical advice, Andrews had one last attempt of regaining entry to Parliament. Richard Molesworth Taylor successfully contested the subsequent by-election on 12 May, gaining 438 votes against John Lee Scott, Andrews and S. G. Jolly. Andrews was elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1884 and was a councillor until 1887. During his time on the council, the new civic office (these days known as Our City was constructed. Andrews caused controversy by claiming the building was structurally unsound. The design competition for the building had been won by Samuel Hurst Seager, who was young and relatively inexperienced, and his design in Queen Anne style was an architectural type unfamiliar to New Zealand. Benjamin Mountfort and John Whitelaw, both architects, and Edward Dobson, an engineer, reviewed the design and the building and found everything to be safe.
Private life
Andrews married Elizabeth Ann Gahagan on 9 August 1874 at Christchurch; they had three sons and four daughters. He was ambitious, energetic and athletic. He pursued different business opportunities and was involved in many organisations. He was a champion rower for several years and also distinguished himself as an administrator for the sport. He had little tolerance for laziness. Andrews died on 18 October 1916 at Heathcote Valley, and was buried at Linwood Cemetery. His wife died three years later on 24 September 1919 at Sumner.
