Settlers and the rapid development of Wellington
"Emigration to New Zealand Important to Farmers and small Capitalists." (1842). Hocken Digital Collections, accessed 04/12/2024, https://hocken.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/43418
"Emigration to New Zealand Important to Farmers and small Capitalists." (1842). Hocken Digital Collections, accessed 04/12/2024, https://hocken.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/43418
Most European settlers came to Wellington in search of opportunity. They had been offered cheap land here by the New Zealand Company. As well as the land, they were given either free or low-cost boat tickets to travel here.
Te Aro Pā is out of frame, to the left. Park, Robert, 1812-1870. [Park, Robert] 1812-1870. :[Te Aro foreshore. Between 1842 and 1850]. Ref: B-078-016. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22446339
Te Aro Pā is out of frame, to the left. Park, Robert, 1812-1870. [Park, Robert] 1812-1870. :[Te Aro foreshore. Between 1842 and 1850]. Ref: B-078-016. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22446339
Many European settlers arrived in Wellington between 1840 and 1842, but the land and the opportunities were not what they expected.
Harvest, 1893, Wellington, by James Nairn. Gift of Miss Mary Newton, 1939. Te Papa (1939-0009-1).
Harvest, 1893, Wellington, by James Nairn. Gift of Miss Mary Newton, 1939. Te Papa (1939-0009-1).
Instead of pasture ready green rolling hills, they found...
Bush and hills near Titahi Bay, circa 1900, Wellington, by William Baker. Purchased 2023. Te Papa (2023-0003-5).
Bush and hills near Titahi Bay, circa 1900, Wellington, by William Baker. Purchased 2023. Te Papa (2023-0003-5).
.... bush, beaches, rugged hills and wetlands. Most struggled to adapt and some returned home.
Detail from the Plan of Early Wellington by the New Zealand Company dated 1840, 1912 - 1926, by James McDonald. Te Papa (MU000523/001/0383)
Detail from the Plan of Early Wellington by the New Zealand Company dated 1840, 1912 - 1926, by James McDonald. Te Papa (MU000523/001/0383)
The New Zealand Company was a private English company set up to enable settlement of New Zealand by creating colonies.
Their plan was to buy big pieces of land, divide them into smaller lots and sell them for a profit.
Plan of Early Wellington by the New Zealand Company dated 1840, 1912 - 1926, by James McDonald. Te Papa (MU000523/001/0383)
There were many problems with this plan, like language barriers and misunderstandings about land purchase and ownership. Many of their purchases were doubtful because the Company had no way of knowing that the people they were paying shared their idea of land ownership or even if they had rights to the land.
Wellington was chosen as the first settlement. The first six shiploads of settlers arrived at Pito-one (now Petone), but soon after their homes were built, they were flooded by the Hutt River.
Te Aro Pā is across the harbour in the right middle-ground.
Also, Pito-One Pā was likely in this area.
So the New Zealand Company moved the people across the harbour to Thorndon. Māori were living there already, at Pipitea Pā and Kumutoto Pā, and they were not happy with the arrival of strangers claiming rights over their land.
Settlement of Wellington by the New Zealand Company., 1899, New Zealand, by Captain Matthew Clayton. Acquisition history unknown. Te Papa (1992-0035-1860).
Settlement of Wellington by the New Zealand Company., 1899, New Zealand, by Captain Matthew Clayton. Acquisition history unknown. Te Papa (1992-0035-1860).
After Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) was signed in 1840, the new government began investigating some of the New Zealand Company's land purchases.
Gilfillan, John Alexander, 1793-1863. Norman, Edmund, 1820-1875. Attributed works :Pa, Te Aro, Wellington looking towards the Hutt River [1842 or 1843?]. Ref: A-049-001. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23026225.
Gilfillan, John Alexander, 1793-1863. Norman, Edmund, 1820-1875. Attributed works :Pa, Te Aro, Wellington looking towards the Hutt River [1842 or 1843?]. Ref: A-049-001. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23026225.
From here things became even more complicated but two things were clear: settlers from across the world kept arriving in Wellington and Māori were pushed out further.
As the city grew, changes happened quickly. More settlers bought their skills, problems, religions, and politics with them. Over time new generations were born in Wellington and many people from all over the world made Wellington their home.
Te Aro Pā c.1840s.
Te Aro Pā c.1871.
The approximate site of Te Aro Pā c.1885.
The approximate site of Te Aro Pā c.1901.
Today the capital city of New Zealand has thousands of homes, businesses, libraries, schools, universities, parks, sports venues, and theatres. The city is always changing with old buildings being demolished and new ones being built.
Approximate location of Te Aro Pā, 1969.
Acknowledgements
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga gratefully acknowledges the support of Alexander Turnbull Library part of Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa National Library of New Zealand, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Hocken Library Uare Taoka o Hākena.
Built with Shorthand