Born in Malta in 1829 and educated in Scotland, George Stoddard Whitmore followed his family’s long tradition of military service when he was commissioned ensign, at age 18, in a South African colonial unit, the Cape Mounted Rifles. There Whitmore revealed the organisational talent, courage and physical endurance that were to become the most commendable of his traits.
Wiremu Tako Ngatata, of Te Ati Awa, usually known as Wi Tako, was a chief born around the beginning of the nineteenth century in Taranaki who migrated south in 1832 with his people to the Cook Strait region. His father signed the Treaty of Waitangi in the Wellington region in April 1840.
Wi Tako was involved with the settlement of Wellington in the 1840s, including some of the questionable deals pushed through by the New Zealand Company, but his evidence to the Spain Commission enquiring into early land deals earned him opposition from early settlers.
The New Zealand Constitution Act (UK) of 1852, which established a system of representative government for New Zealand, was declared operative by Governor Sir George Grey.
The Legislative Council was New Zealand's Upper House, to which members were appointed, not elected. It was abolished in 1950 by government legislation.
The final gathering of the Legislative Council, 1 December 1950. Just before 6 p.m. the members linked arms in the centre of the chamber and sang 'Auld lang syne' and the national anthem before leaving.
New Zealand became a British colony in 1840, legitimised by the Treaty of Waitangi and Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson's declaration of 21 May declaring sovereignty over the islands.
