Tempestuous travels | Otago Daily Times Online News

Reflecting on the recent Waitangi Day celebrations brings to mind the journey of the Treaty document to Otago. On April 29, 1840, the HMS Herald embarked from the Bay of Islands carrying the “Herald Bunbury” copy of the Treaty, aiming to establish British sovereignty through the agreement and signatures of Māori chiefs. Commissioner Thomas Bunbury and my great-great grandfather’s cousin, Henry Wandesforde Comber, were among those on board. Comber’s diary recounts their voyage south from the Bay of Islands, facing various challenges along the way.

The inclement weather forced them to anchor at Palliser Bay before proceeding to “Akeroa,” where they encountered the cautious Ngai Tahu tribe following a previous massacre. Their journey continued to Stewart Island, where they explored Sylvan Bay and encountered unique wildlife. Ruapuke Island became a significant location as Ngai Tahu chief Tuhawaiki signed the Treaty and declared his ownership of the island. Comber admired Tuhawaiki’s demeanor and hospitality during their visit.

The Herald journeyed back north to “Otako,” stopping at Cloudy Bay to explain the Treaty to local chiefs who were hesitant to relinquish their land. This skepticism towards the Treaty’s principles resonates through history, as evident in Comber’s documentation of the chiefs’ reluctance.

For a comprehensive account of this historic voyage, refer to the diary in Tour of Duty edited by W.D. McIntyre and M. McIntyre, published by McMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies in 1999.