LIKE TEENAGERS WHO VOYAGED TO NEW ZEALAND FROM SCOTLAND – GEORGE CRUICKSHANK’S ST ANDREWS TO AUCKLAND STORY
Aotearoa New Zealand has always been home to teenagers of great Spirit
[Artist Roger Morris depicts ships, The Duchess of Argyle and The Jane Gifford arriving in Auckland, New Zealand from Glasgow - 1942]
Q: Can you write something about your own family history?
A: On my Scottish side (not the Maori side), my immediate New Zealand family owes its existence in New Zealand to adventurous 18 year-old men who were teenaged immigrant explorers of a new world. From St Andrews, (N-E) Fife, George Cruickshank set sail from Scotland at 18 aboard “The Egmont” sailing ship, as his older brothers had done before him on other vessels destined for a green paradise in the South Pacific.
After an arduous journey, the young ironmonger who would go on to found Cruickshank & Miller Co, arrived safely upon the waters of Aotearoa New Zealand.
George was born the year that The Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document was signed by the Auckland Chief Paora Tuhaere and his Maori contemporaries. The young George Cruickshank arrived in New Zealand in 1958 and married Barbara Snodgrass, the daughter of William Snodgrass and Elizabeth Graham. Elizabeth was one of thirteen children - the eldest sister of Robert Graham, a famous Superintendent of Tamaki Makarau, Auckland City - and an entrepreneurial New Zealand pioneer.
In sharing a story of ‘New Zealand family’ this article appeared in a newspaper next to Sir Robert Muldoon‘s column on “Why it’s important for New Zealand to include ‘The New Europe’ for ‘The Common Market’” article, the then Prime Minister had penned while visiting Hungary. The article seems so misguided today. The sailing article sums up the price people weighed up once, when deciding to become a New Zealand citizen by making a journey to the country where I blog from. In those days iimmigrating to New Zealand was a matter you really had to think about. The journey was arduous.
In the spirit of ‘we were all immigrants once’ here’s a story celebrating the spirit of New Zealand’s history of immigrants, that includes Robert Graham’s words on his own arrival, just like my own ancestor George Cruickshank experienced too.
January 21 1990, Sunday Star, Leisure Section, Article: All I Want is a Tall Ship – Ben Jackson reports from on board the Soren Larsen.
“Since I crossed the Line from the North to the Southern Hemisphere, I trust that I may, by the assistance of God, cross the line from a life of wickedness into righteousness and that all my relations that read this may do the same.”–Robert Graham writing seasick.
On a Spring evening nearly 150 years ago, two ship—their sails billowing like huge handkerchiefs—glided into the Waitemata Harbour. On board the Jane Gifford and Duchess of Argyll 552 emigrants crowded to the railings to look at the collection of buildings and shacks that dotted the foreshore of Auckland.
During 16 exhausting weeks they had seen 34 fellow migrants buried at sea and 16 born.
They had dealt with a near mutiny, prayed and persevered… and they had made it. (more…)
WAITANGI DAY FEBRUARY 2012 – REMEMBERING PAORA TUHAERE’S LEGACY OF LOVE TO AUCKLAND CITY
It’s February 6th in New Zealand today, or, Waitangi Day where all people in New Zealand stop to reflect on the significiance of Maori people as equal treaty partners with The Crown (government) of New Zealand in building a strong future together.
At this time we reflect on Maoridom’s founding fathers and mothers and we express gratitude for all that they gifted all people who walk on New Zealand land today or sail on New Zealand coastal waters today. We are because they were and their descendants are. We are because they embraced early guests to New Zealand who also became citizens. We are because they signed a Treaty agreement in partnership with Queen Victoria agreeing to co-shape a vision of equal partnership with Maori and all citizens of New Zealand. In part, this is what this day means.
The most popular founding father of Maori persuasion today as voted by you is Paora Tuhaere who gifted thousands of hectares of Tamaki Makaurau land to the city of Auckland, so that it could be establised as a thriving city. Today his vision is still being realized as Auckland is the largest City in New Zealand today.
You like Paora Tuhaere a lot today. Check out some amazing facts about this man whose legacy of generosity, love and peace is still the foundation of what we walk on in the city with the largest Kiwi economy in the South Pacific. What a man…. Lest we forget. Peace!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 6.2.12~
PAORA TUHAERE, FOUNDING FATHER OF AUCKLAND CITY, BELIEVED IN PEACE AND UNITY
Paora Tuhaere , a Maori chief of Te Taou and founding father of New Zealand, believed in the wisdom of peace and unity of purpose for Maori people to benefit all New Zealanders. His great generosity of spirit is still enjoyed by New Zealand’s largest growing city today. For all people of Auckland City, when you look back on how early Auckland was established and developed- you’d have to say, Paora Tuhaere was “da man.” His people, “awesome people.”
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 26.1.12~
PAORA TUHAERE – FOUNDING FATHER TAMAKI MAKAURAU – AUCKLAND CITY
Ten Things About Paora Tuhaere - Founding father of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest city:
Wisdom: He was a peacemaker, a warrior of Peace.
Pacific Visionary: He started up a Pacific Islands trading venture by buying a schooner, the Victoria
He unified fairly: In the face of injustice, he became a leading figure in the Kotahitanga movement, whose aim was to abolish Maori land laws, implement the Treaty of Waitangi, and exercise a degree of Maori self-government.
He partnered with The Crown: He furthered the “covenant” of Kohimarama.
He was a coastal dweller : This chief of Ngati Whatua lived at Orakei on the shores of the Waitemata harbour in Auckland.
He was an author: Tuhaere authored books about Kaipara and Tamaki by Ngati Whatua’s history.
He was a good negotiations navigator Intelligent, Paora Tuhaere demonstrated clearly his place in two worlds. The remarkable transition of Maori society is summed up in this one man’s adaptive ability to read the times and negotiate accordingly.
He thought bloodshed was needless and unwise: Their are many accounts of Paora Tuhaere mediating and heading off threats of war wisely through peaceful and wise persuasion.
He believed in shaping a city housing peoples Kiwi dreams: He had a vision for property residential development.
He was well liked: Tuhaere was known as a good friend to the Europeans, loyal to the Crown during the wars, an honest and straight-forward adviser to Governments and a conciliator between races in times of trouble.
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In addition, like Robert Graham - a New Zealander who lived the same time as this great Chief, Paora Tuhaere was bilingual.
[Sources - NZ History.Net. Auckland Art Gallery. Waitangi Tribunal. Photo: Webb's. AC].
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 16.9.11~
