MANTELL, WALTER BALDOCK DURANT (1820-95) was the son of Dr Gideon A. Mantell (1790-1852), LL.D., F.R.S., the geologist; author of Medals of Creation and the atlas of fossil remains. Born at Lewes, Sussex, England, and educated at Brighton, he studied medicine at London University, but did not proceed to his degree. At the age of 20 he came to New Zealand in the Oriental (arriving Jan 1840). He took up land at Wainui, but was disappointed, and returned to town, and accepted employment with the New Zealand Company. He assisted to form the settlements at Wanganui and Taranaki, where with Nairn he investigated the moa bone deposits at Waingongoro.

In 1841 he was clerk to the magistrates at Wellington; in 1842 postmaster, and in 1845 superintendent of military roads. In 1848 he was appointed by the Governor commissioner for the extinguishment of native titles in the Middle Island. He resided most of his time in Otago, and succeeded in arranging the purchase of 30,000,000 acres of land for something like £5,000 cash. In 1851 he was appointed commissioner of crown lands for Otago, holding the position for five years. He did not get on well with the Otago people. While visiting England (1855-59), Mantell was told that the New Zealand Government did not propose to honour the promises he had made to the Maori as to schools, hospitals and reserves. He tried to obtain an interview with Henry Labouchere, the Secretary of State, to protest, but was refused, and accordingly he resigned his position in New Zealand.

Returning to the colony (1860), he was elected in the following year M.H.R. for Wallace (which he represented for five years). In Jul 1861 Fox took advantage of his knowledge of Maori matters to appoint him Native Minister for a few months. Domett made him a member of his executive (1862-63) as Secretary for Crown Lands, and for a few weeks as Postmaster-general. In the Weld ministry, too, his services were requisitioned as Native Minister (Dec 1864-Jul 1865), and for a few weeks as Native Secretary (Apr-Jul 1865). He did not stand for re-election in 1866, but a few months later was called to the Legislative Council, of which he remained a member until his death, on 7 Sep 1895.

Mantell's knowledge of Maori language, customs and remains was most intimate, and he contributed many papers to the proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, notably on the moa beds of Waingongoro (Taranaki) and Waikouaiti (Otago), and the drawings in the Takiroa caves, Waitaki valley. He was one of the founders, and some years secretary, of the New Zealand Institute, and was president of the Wellington Philosophical society (1870). Mantell married first (1863) Mary Sarah (d. 1873) daughter of Edward Prince; and second (1876) Jane (d. 1906), daughter of Benjamin Hardwick (Beckenham, England).

App. H.R., 1858, C3; 1873, G2c; 1886, G16; 1888, 18; Parltry Record; Cycl. N.Z., i; Encycl. Brit. (11th ed), vol 17; Trans. N.Z. Inst, vols 1, 3, 5; Col. Gent.; Hocken; Mantell letters and diaries in Turnbull Library; Ward (p); Gisborne; Saunders; Rusden; Mackay; Lyttelton Times, 6 Jun 1879; Athenaeum, 20 Nov 1852; Evening Post and N.Z. Times, 8 Sep 1895. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 29

🌳 Further sources