Some Background on the province of Otago, New Zealand

Evidence suggests that the first inhabitants of New Zealand were Moa-hunting Polynesians but little is known of them other than folklore that has survived in classic Maori traditions. The body of knowledge, however, is constantly being expanded by archaeologists.

The most famous explorer of the South Pacific was Captain James Cook but he did not make contact with the Maori in today's province of Otago on New Zealand's South Island. Passing in 1770 he observed a 'green and woody ' land but no inhabitants. Sealers from Sidney, Australia and roving whalers were the first to put ashore in the early 1800s.

By the 1830 a series of whaling stations had been set up along the coast with some whalers growing wheat and potatoes for their own use and to send back to Australia.

Otago Maori, on the whole welcomed the the rough and brutal visitors. For one thing they liked the guns they brought so they could use them against traditional enemies. But soon measles brought by the visitors was destroying whole communities of Maori. The whalers rum took a toll on the survivors. Sick tribes were soon selling off their land to European arrivals.

Johnny Jones was one of the first to take advantage of the situation. In 1838 he took over a whaling station and persuaded the Maori to accept him as chief claiming 2 million acres of their land. He then brought in settlers, including a missionary and doctor and started raising grain, cattle and sheep to send to Australia.

In 1848 a closer market appeared with the arrival of 300 Scots and the settlement of Dunedin was born. By the 1850s Dunedin's founders with stock from Jones were pushing inland looking for more and more grazing land. And by 1860 most of the useful land to the east of South Island's mountain spine had been taken. Otago was grazing nearly 300,000 sheep with quick fortunes being made in this the start of an industry that today has over 9 million sheep roaming Otago province.

A year later in 1861 even larger fortunes were about to be made with the discovery of gold.

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