August, 2025

As Fathers' Day approaches, we look back to the 19^th C.  There are plenty of fathers. Male writers, travellers, naturalists, and explorers dominate. But now and again you notice relationships between fathers and sons which intrigue.

One of those is the handing down of a book through generations. The Rev Robert Ward, the first Primitive Methodist missionary in the Southern Hemisphere, arrived at New Plymouth in 1844. His son Robert was the eldest of 12 children, and the father passed onto his son his book Life among the Maoris of New Zealand, published in 1872. We have an association copy of this book with the author’s inscription, gifting his book to son Robert, in 1873.  There is a further inscription dated 1967, ‘Mr A D Ward, from his father. This book was written by your Great Great Grandfather.’ The copy has been passed down through 4 generations.

Another, more famous father and son relationship was that between the immigration pioneer and theorist Edward Gibbon Wakefield and his son. Wakefield was the founder of the NZ Company and the instigator of organized immigration to the new colony. His son Edward Jermingham got into the act, sailing out in the first NZ Company ship the Tory, hypnotising Charles Heaphy for fun on the way, and then pursing a riotous life in New Zealand, as a traveller, MP and the writer of one the liveliest accounts of early New Zealand. Sadly, Edward Jerningham declined into alcoholism and died destitute. 

We have copies for sale of both the elder Wakefield’s iconic The British Colonisation of New Zealand of 1837, and the son’s Adventure in New Zealand of 1845.

Perhaps its now about time to start looking at mothers and daughters, often the hidden heroines of early New Zealand.