BARRETT, RICHARD (1807-47) was born in Rotherhithe, London, became a sailor and visited New Zealand waters as mate of Love's schooner Tohora (whale), which traded in pork and flax between Nga-motu (New Plymouth) and Sydney from 1828-29 until a cask of pork fell from the slings and destroyed the vessel. Barrett remained at Nga-motu, where he married Lavinia Waikaiua (Rawinia), of the Ngatite-Whiti tribe. He was the mainstay, with Love (Hakirau), in the defence of the Otaka pa (Breakwater, New Plymouth), when it was fiercely besieged by the invading Waikato in 1831. With the survivors, Barrett journeyed south inland of Waikanae, where they were under the protection of Te Rauparaha at Kapiti Island. Thence he moved to Port Nicholson and across the straits to Te Awaiti (Tauwhite), on Tory Channel, where he became a whaler. On 18 Aug the Tory anchored in Ship Cove, and Colonel Wakefield engaged Barrett as interpreter. Edward J. Wakefield says: 'Dressed in a white jacket, blue dungaree trousers, and round straw hat, he seemed perfectly round all over, while his jovial, ruddy face, twinkling eyes and good-humoured smile could not fail to excite the pleasure of all beholders.' H. S. Chapman in the New Zealand Journal, 1850, said he was 'a great man among the natives, who adore him, and is respected by even drunken whalers.' Barrett went with Wakefield to Port Nicholson, where he explained to the chiefs the intentions of the Company and its desire to acquire land. A purchase was accordingly made of a considerable area, now occupied by Wellington city and suburbs and the Hutt valley. After the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, the Company's claim was investigated and considerably reduced. On 1 Feb 1840 Barrett piloted the Tory to Moturoa (New Plymouth) with a similar object. He returned to Wellington and acted as agent for natives and interpreter. On 24 Oct he opened a hotel (known as Barrett's), which became a meeting place for colonial deals and social events in the young settlement. Barrett possessed the first horses in New Plymouth. In 1843 he accompanied three stockmen, driving 70 head of cattle, from Wellington to New Plymouth. In 1844 he retired to his Moturoa whaling station, where he died on 23 Feb 1847.

N.Z.C. 113; G.B.P.P., 1840-41; H. M. Jarvis in N.Z. Herald, 5 Mar-30 Apr 1892; A. Hood, Taranaki and Dicky Barrett, 1890; E. J. Wakefield; McNab, Old Whaling Days; S. P. Smith, Taranaki; Ward.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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