The First Colonist - Samuel Deighton, 1821-1900

A fascinating insight into early New Zealand history. Draws on letters between Deighton and government officials: Deighton, from Cambridge, England, was the first ashore from the first ships which landed off Petone in Wellington Harbour in 1840; he held land orders from the New Zealand Company and fought in the Maori wars; he became an interpreter and a resident magistrate; he served as a magistrate and Native Land Court Judge in the Chatham Islands; he wrote the first Moriori dictionary (included in appendices); letters provide information and understanding of land purchases and Maori-European relationships.