BREE, EDWARD NUGENT (1803-83) was the son of the Rev. Robert-Francis Bree, of Sydenham, England. He was curate of East Dereham, Norfolk, to 1848, and rector of All Saints, Hereford (1851-59). In the early sixties Bree came to New Zealand, and in 1864 was vicar of Whangarei. Thereafter he lived in Auckland as vicar of All Saints for a short time and then for sixteen years as vicar of St. Matthews. He was a strong evangelical and freely associated with the clergy of other denominations at church meetings. He took a great interest in social movements. In the time of the depression of the sixties he proposed a scheme of poor law relief for destitute persons, combining the principles of equal distribution of the burden and benefits and the labour test for able-bodied recipients. Another interesting social plan he outlined in 1881. Bree was president of the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1864 he was a highway trustee for the Whangarei district. He died on 6 Jun 1883.

Ruvigny, Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal, 1911; Southern Cross, 26 Jul 1866, 28 Oct 1873; N.Z. Herald, 9 Jan 1868, 18 Feb 1881, 7 Jun 1883, 8 Nov 1926; Auckland Star, 7 Jun 1883.

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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