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Auckland 1857

Auckland and its isthmus enjoyed rich, fertile land. Founded as a city in 1840 and declared the capital in 1841, it was replaced by Port Nicholson (==> Wellington) in 1865, due to Wellington's proximity to the South Island.

Due to a Maori rebellion in the mid-1840s, the government encouraged retired but fit British soldiers and their families to migrate to Auckland to form a defence line around the port settlement (the "Fencibles") Outlying defensive towns were then constructed to the south, each of four settlements with 800 settlers; the men were fully armed in case of emergency.

In the early 1860s, Auckland became a base against the Māori King Movement, and the 12,000 Imperial soldiers stationed there led to a strong boost to local commerce. This, and continued road building towards the south into the Waikato Region, enabled European influence to spread from Auckland. Auckland’s fortunes had risen with the influx of soldiers, but declined when the troops left from 1864 and the capital was moved to Wellington a year later. The discovery of gold at Thames in 1868 brought a new influx of wealth, however.

The majority of settlers in the early period were assisted by receiving cheap passage to New Zealand. About half of the new immigrants came from Australia, and many were Irish. The Maberlys from London/Middlesex travelled out to teach, or in Joseph's case to retire after working across the country. Auckland's proximity to the Bass Straits supported travel, with Maberly's moving between Auckland and Australia regulalrly.

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Geographical Index

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