The multi-faceted Charles Heaphy made quite an impact on colonial New Zealand as an artist, explorer, soldier and colonial administrator. He was the first colonial soldier to win the Victoria Cross
William Skinner was the son of pioneer settlers in Taranaki. He trained as a survey cadet and surveyed much of the bush-clad areas of Taranaki. From 1888, ill-health required a change in roles to draughtsman and inspecting surveyor.
Born in England, Edward Phillips-Turner grew up in Tasmania before settling in New Zealand in 1884. He trained as a surveyor and worked in various parts of New Zealand as well as in Tasmania and New South Wales.
Stephenson Percy Smith (seen here with Elsdon Best) grew up on a family farm in Taranaki from 1850, trained as a survey cadet and worked as a professional surveyor throughout much of the northern half of the North Island.
John Marchant settled in New Zealand in 1863 and practised as a surveyor in Invercargill. He joined the Department of Lands and became surveyor for Wellington in 1879, a Commissioner of Crown Lands in 1884 and surveyor-general in 1902.
