Honey bees brought to NZ

When Mary Bumby landed at the Wesleyan Mission Station at Mangungu, Hokianga, in March 1839, she brought ashore two hives of honey bees from Sydney, where they had been established since 1822.

Mary arrived with her older brother John, who had been appointed by the Methodist Church as its new Superintendent of Missions in New Zealand. Missionaries were responsible for the introduction of a number of European agricultural practices. New Zealand had two native species of bees, but neither was suitable for producing honey.

Mary Bumby was born at Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1811. She and John sailed for New Zealand aboard the James in September 1838. Mary kept a detailed diary from the day she left her Yorkshire home. It includes graphic accounts of her first impressions of New Zealand.

John Bumby was drowned in June 1840 and later that year Mary married the missionary Gideon Smales, who was six years her junior. She noted in her diary: ‘well I have made up my mind after much consideration and prayer to become a Missionary’s wife. My soul is deeply humiliated [humbled] at the thought of the responsibility of such a situation.’

The couple were posted to a mission station at Pākanae, closer to the Hokianga Heads. Once their first child was born in October 1841, Mary had no time to keep a diary.

Mary Bumby died at sea on a return voyage to England in March 1862.