James Busby

Edinburgh-born James Busby (1802-1871) was British Resident, a consular representative, in New Zealand from 1833. His job was to protect the more orderly British settlers and traders and prevent "outrages" by the less orderly Europeans against Maori. He was given no troops or a police force and had no legal power to make arrests, so he was unable to carry out his tasks with any authority. In 1834, he gained official recognition for a New Zealand flag, under which locally built ships could sail without being impounded in Sydney. In 1835, Busby used Charles de Thierry’s attempt to declare a sovereign state in the Hokianga to persuade chiefs to sign a Declaration of Independence declaring their own sovereignty over New Zealand. While there was considerable doubt that the "confederation" actually existed, the British Government recognised the Declaration. Five years later, Busby helped William Hobson to draft the Treaty of Waitangi ceding that sovereignty to the British Crown. The Treaty was explained, debated and signed at the great gathering at Busby's Waitangi home – now the "Treaty House" - and his influence was seen in Article 2 ("Read The Treaty") of the Treaty, which guaranteed Maori chiefs the "tino rangatiratanga" (Maori version) or "full, exclusive and undisturbed possession" (English version) of their lands and other resources. Trained in Europe as a viticulturalist, Busby brought with him a collection of grapevines that helped to found the Australian wine industry. In New Zealand, he became our first winemaker. Though the new colonial government failed to employ him, he farmed, edited a newspaper and served as a member of the Auckland Provincial Council.

See also: biography of James Busby on DNZB website