James Mackay (New Zealand politician, born 1831)
| James Mackay | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
16 November 1831 London |
| Died | 10 October 1912 (aged 80) Paeroa |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Occupation | farmer, explorer, public servant, administrator, land purchaser, interpreter, advocate and politician |
| Known for | purchase of the West Coast; opening of the Thames and Ohinemuri goldfields |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Sophia Braithwaite (m. 1864; d. 1915) |
James Mackay (16 November 1831 – 10 October 1912) was a New Zealand farmer, explorer, public servant, administrator, land purchaser, interpreter, advocate and politician.
James Mackay was born in London, the eldest son of a banker. He was one of eight children born to James Mackay senior and Ann (née Charles) between 1829 and 1848. Two cousins were also raised with the family, the oldest of which, Alexander Mackay, was two years younger than James Mackay junior and described by him as being like a brother. He also had two half sisters from James Mackay senior’s second marriage after the death of Ann in 1860.
In 1845 the family emigrated from London to Nelson Province in New Zealand on the Slains Castle. They established themselves just north of Nelson Town in an area called Wakapuaka on a farm they named Drumduan. Their land bordered on Maori reserve, and as James Mackay junior embraced colonial life, working twelve hour days on the farm as well as keeping up with his studies, he also became fluent in Maori.
In 1852, when James Mackay turned 21, with the help of his father he established a cattle run below Farewell Spit in Golden Bay. At that time Golden Bay was completely isolated from the rest of province, with a population consisting almost entirely of Maori living in several villages along the coast. In 1855 the first three families of agricultural settlers arrived, and at about the same time a sawmill was established at Motupipi. There was soon conflict between the sawyers and local Maori, and concerned about the way it was dealt with, Mackay appealed to the Native Secretary Donald McLean to appoint him into a position to mediate between Maori and Pakeha (Europeans).
The request was granted in 1857 after gold was discovered in the Aorere Valley and a large population of both Maori and Pakeha arrived at the diggings, which centred on the new town of Collingwood. Mackay was appointed Assistant Native Secretary on a salary of £100, but the salary for the amount of work involved was not enough, so he lobbied for a more substantial position. After the Goldfields Act came into force in 1859, which brought official law and order to the Collingwood Goldfield, Mackay was appointed Warden, Coroner and Resident Magistrate.
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