Adventure in New Zealand - E Jerningham Wakefield

Published by Golden Press: Auckland, Christchurch, Sydney, 1975.
First published 1845. This abridged edition (by Joan Stevens) first published 1955.

This book is part of the New Zealand Classics series, which I have several of. It also has the distinction of forming the basis for a recent historical novel, Jerningham, which creates a fictionalised version of the author's life. 

As the title suggests, Adventure in New Zealand tells the story of Edward Jerningham Wakefield's adventures in New Zealand. Jerningham was the son of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and nephew to both William Wakefield and Arthur Wakefield, the former of whom was one of the founders of Wellington, and the latter of whom was notably killed during the Wairau Affray. 

All of the Wakefields were involved in the New Zealand Company, an organisation that today is viewed with much suspicion. Jerningham, of course, paints a much rosier picture of the NZ Company's dealings, putting any fault over land-sale controversies on to the shoulders of various Maori chiefs, including Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata, the latter of whom comes off the worst. Of course, with these two chiefs being directly responsible for the death of Jerningham's uncle, it makes sense that he would not see them in the kindest light!

Jerningham comes across as a fascinating individual. He picks up te reo quickly, as well as an understanding of Maori custom, and uses that to his advantage in his land-purchases, as well as getting himself out of various scrapes. He has a great love for the NZ Company, a dislike of Governor Hobson and the Auckland settlement as a whole, and a mixed view of mission-work in the country - mostly he dislikes them, but Octavius Hadfield is singled out for praise.

His account was also published at a time when the NZ Company's reputation was under fire, and is purposefully one-sided in its accounts - which is also fascinating.

Early New Zealand is described in great detail, different individuals are fleshed out in a way that some histories may not achieve, and Jerningham himself is vindicated time and time again. If the story drags at times (and this is an abridgment!) it is only due to the thoroughness of Jerningham's account.

I really enjoyed this. It leaves a lot of questions, particularly about how biased Jerningham is being, but it still gives a great look into the early days of colony life in the New Zealand of the 1840s.

Completed 18 March 2025.

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