SCHNACKENBERG, CORT HENRY (1812-80) was born in Wilstedt, Hanover, and brought up in the Lutheran faith in a devout home. His father dying when he was 13, Cort found his way to London and entered commercial life. After a few years there he sailed for Sydney (1837), and two years later was sent to New Zealand as agent to purchase flax and other produce from the Maori. He sailed from Sydney in the Bee (Nov 1839). Schnackenberg had joined the Independent Church in Sydney. In 1839 he was at Paparua (Kawhia). There he became acquainted with Whiteley (q.v.), who was impressed by his piety and his knowledge of Maori, gained during many journeys in the interior. In 1844 he consented to become a catechist in the Wesleyan mission, and he was stationed first at Mokau, reopening a station which had been abandoned owing to native and other difficulties. There he rapidly gained the confidence and esteem of the natives and became a valuable missionary. In 1853 he was received on probation for the Wesleyan ministry, and in 1857 he was taken into full connection, being ordained in the High Street chapel, Auckland. The next few years he spent at Kawhia, until the outbreak of the Waikato war. Thereafter he remained at Raglan until his death, ministering to Europeans and Maori over a wide and difficult district. He supervised the Government schools amongst the natives, and was frequently called upon to advise the Government on native matters. He died on 10 Aug 1880.

Schnackenberg married (1864) Annie Jane (d. 2 May 1905), daughter of Edward Allen of Mount Albert, formerly of Leamington, Warwickshire, who arrived in the Black Eagle (1861). She was for 10 years president of the W.C.T.U.

Buller; Morley; N.Z. Herald, 16, 25 Aug 1880, 8 May 1905; Auckland Star, 23 May 1980.

Reference: Volume 2, page 141

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