KELLING, JOHN FEDOR AUGUSTUS (1820-1909) was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, where he had a high school education and studied surveying. He farmed for a while on the estates of Count Ranzau, and in 1844 left for New Zealand in the Skjold as one of the leaders of the second migration of Germans for Nelson, in which the count took an interest. He settled at Waimea East, took up 350 acres for farming and in 1855 purchased a run of 8,000 acres in Marlborough. There he pastured 4,000 sheep until 1877, when he bought a large farm at Stanley Brook, Motueka. In 1853 he was a director of the Settlers' Cattle Fair association, and in the following year he organised the Nelson Agricultural association, of which he was secretary to 1862. Kelling was elected in 1854 to the first Waimea road board. He was chairman of the board to 1860, and also of the central education board. He was elected to the Provincial Council for Waimea East, which he represented 1857-63 and 1865-75. In 1860 he was for a few months member of Parliament for the same constituency. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1859. In 1863 he visited Europe and acted as immigration agent for the New Zealand Government, which was interested in obtaining more German settlers.

In 1867 Kelling was appointed consul for New Zealand for the North German Confederation. This position he held until 1871, when he became consul for the German Empire, a post which was abolished on his recommendation in 1884. The Kaiser presented him with the Order of the Crown in recognition of his services. Kelling was a lieutenant in the New Zealand militia during the Maori war, but did not serve in the field. He died on 24 Oct 1909.

Nelson P.A.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D., 26 Oct 1909; App. H.R., 1863, D5; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z., v (p); The Colonist, 27 Oct 1909; N.Z. Times, 25 Apr 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 244

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