TUCKETT, FREDERICK (1807-76) was born at Frenchay, near Bristol, educated in that town and then apprenticed to the tanning trade. For three years he travelled in the United States, and on his return in 1831 he studied civil engineering. He then entered the service of Brunel, the engineer, and under him supervised the construction of a section of the Great Western railway. It was while thus employed that he received the offer of the post of principal surveyor and engineer to the New Zealand Company's expedition for the founding of Nelson (22 Apr 1841). He sailed in the Will Watch.

Tuckett disagreed with Captain Wakefield over the site for the town of Nelson, but carried out the surveys for both town and country allotments. A man of stalwart build and great endurance, he filled satisfactorily the post to which he was appointed, though his sturdy determination and stubborn adherence to his opinions did not always commend themselves to his superiors. As a member of the Society of Friends he found himself at variance with the policy of force which it was proposed to adopt towards the natives over the Wairau dispute, and he was an unwilling spectator of the fatal affray on 17 Jun 1843. Summoned to the Wairau by the report that the surveyors' huts had been burned by the natives, Tuckett went to interview Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata. He was firm and dignified in his attitude towards them and refused to remove the tent, but he was under no misapprehension as to the propriety of the Company's action. When he met Wakefield with the sheriff and special constables coming from Nelson he earnestly begged them not to proceed, but to have the dispute dealt with in a proper manner. After the affray he insisted on the brig returning straight to Wellington with the news.

Colonel Wakefield appointed Tuckett acting resident at Nelson in the vacancy caused by the death of Arthur Wakefield. As surveyor for the Company Tuckett made valuable explorations. He discovered the route from Nelson to Wairau via the Top House, and declared the Wairau between Cape Campbell and Cape Farewell. In 1844 Tuckett was appointed (under conditions upon which he insisted) to explore the South Island for a site for the proposed New Edinburgh settlement. Sailing from Nelson in the brigantine Deborah, 121 tons, he first inspected closely Banks Peninsula and the country on the Canterbury plains adjacent to the Peninsula. In Apr he proceeded to Otago. His journal, recording the very complete examination which he made of the whole of Otago and Southland and the signing on 20 Jun 1844 of the deed of sale, is published in Hocken's Early History of New Zealand. He remained at Otago in charge of the surveys until the end of the year.

In 1847 Tuckett returned to England, and thereafter took a keen interest in the Aborigines Protection Society, in emigration and in the temperance movement. He died in Apr 1876.

Tuckett was a man of firm principles and rigid honour, a stalwart in every sense, but not an easy man to work with.

G.B.O.P., 1845/131; N.Z.C.; Hocken, Otago; A. Mackay; Broad; Cycl. N.Z. v; Buick, Marlborough; Wohlers; Nelson Evening Mail, 11 Dec

Reference: Volume 2, page 202

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