Thomas Buick

Thomas Buick was born in Oamaru. Between 1890 and 1896 he was the member of Parliament for Wairau (Marlborough)

Although largely self-educated he was an able and intelligent man, best known for his historical writing. He produced a series of local histories and a biography of Te Rauparaha before publishing his best known and most important book, The Treaty of Waitangi, in 1914. This helped re-establish the Treaty of Waitangi as New Zealand's most important historical document. According to Buick the Treaty was 'the foundation of our nationhood'. He died in 1938.

Adapted from the DNZB biography by J. E. Traue

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