HEALE, THEOPHILUS (1816-85) was born in England, the son of a sugar broker in London. He received a good classical education, and was an accomplished linguist, mathematician and navigator; and something of a geologist; a man of singular attainments and wide experience gained in travel. Going to sea at an early age, Heale is said to have commanded an East Indiaman before being appointed to the Aurora, which brought the first of the New Zealand Company's settlers to Port Nicholson (arriving 22 Jan 1840). A few weeks later, while getting a cargo of spars, the vessel was stranded at the mouth of Kaipara harbour and became a total loss. Heale spent some months travelling and making business connections in the north, and at the end of the year, having entered into partnership with Dudley Sinclair and others, he left for England. In Apr 1841 Sinclair purchased town sections for them in the first sale at Auckland. In reply to the criticisms of Wakefield, Heale published his book New Zealand and the New Zealand Company. He carried out negotiations on behalf of the Manukau Land Company with a Scots organisation which proposed to develop the interests of his group and establish a township (Cornwallis) inside the north head of Manukau harbour.

Heale brought out the machinery for a steam sawmill, which he erected on an 18 acre section at Cornwallis. The project failed; the partnership was dissolved, and Heale returned to England again (1843). While there he gave valuable evidence before the select committee of the House of Commons. In 1845, in partnership with Whitaker (q.v.) Heale obtained a grant from FitzRoy for 274 acres of land on Kawau island, below highwater mark, where it was intended to mine for copper. The grant was contested by the Aberdeen company which was operating above highwater mark and, the Privy Council having decided against Heale and Whitaker, they disposed of their interests (1850). They later engaged in copper mining on Great Barrier.

Heale was one of three members nominated by FitzRoy to the Legislative Council (3 Mar 1845) who resigned a year later to leave Grey free to make his own appointments. In Jan 1860 he was elected to Parliament for Auckland Suburbs, which he represented at the following session. He was defeated for Parnell at the general election by R. G. Wood (Jan 1861). A few months later (Sep 1861) he was appointed chief surveyor of the new province of Southland under the superintendency of Menzies (q.v.), who shortly appointed him chief engineer and adviser to the government. Heale laid out and supervised the construction of the Bluff, Oreti and Northern railways, which were prosecuted with vigour until the provincial exchequer was empty. He also made important reports on the settlement of Stewart island. In May 1864 he was appointed deputy-superintendent, and J. H. Baker assumed office as deputy chief surveyor. The province being no longer able to finance public works, Heale did not resume his full duties, but undertook professional work in the north. At the end of 1864, as the outcome of a political deadlock, the Provincial Council elected him Superintendent, but as he had not received the requisite absolute majority he retired and then appears to have severed his connection with the province.

Late in 1864 Heale carried out surveying contracts at Tauranga, and a few months later was appointed inspector of surveys under the native land act. Early in 1866, though he was now away from Southland, he consented to be nominated for the Invercargill seat in Parliament. He did not appear to address the electors, but was defeated by Wood by only one vote. In Nov 1867 he was appointed chief surveyor in Auckland and inspector of surveys for the Colony, which position he held until 1876. While thus employed, he initiated the first extensive system of triangulation, which was afterwards prosecuted by S. P. Smith from one end of New Zealand to the other. Smith considered Heale "the most scientific surveyor in the country." He took observations of the transit of Venus and fixed the latitude of Mount Eden. In 1871 he published his Principles and Practice of Surveying. After the abolition of the provinces Heale was appointed (30 Apr 1877) a judge of the native land court, for which his knowledge of Maori and of Maori customs eminently fitted him. He retired in 1880 and visited England, but was again appointed in 1882. He finally retired in 1883 and returned to England, where he died, at Orpington, Kent, on 21 May 1885. He was a man of unusual attainments and experience, but lacked the assertiveness of character necessary for advancement in public life.

Family information; G.B.O.P., 1845/56; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); N.Z. Gaz., 1860-62, 1864-67, 1877, 1882; App. H.R., 1869 D20; 1870 D11, H4; 1872 G21; 1873 G6, H1; 1874 H11; 1875 H6; 1876 H17; Auckland Gaz. 1843; Southland Gaz. 1861-64; A. Mackay; Jourdain; Baker; Auckland Public Library, N.Z. MS 095B; research by R. P. Fletcher, Lands and Survey dept. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 203

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