COLENSO, WILLIAM (1811-99) was born at Penzance, Cornwall, a son of Samuel May Colenso and first cousin of John William Colenso, Bishop of Natal. Educated privately in Penzance, he was apprenticed to printing and bookbinding there and afterwards worked as a compositor in London.

In 1833 the C.M.S. appealed for a mission press to be established in New Zealand. The S.P.C.K. responded, and Colenso was engaged as a catechist and printer. He landed at Paihia on 30 Dec 1834. Though lacking much of the requisite equipment, he produced on 17 Feb 1835 the first proofs of the first book printed in New Zealand, the epistles to the Ephesians and the Philippians (in Maori). In Dec 1837 he completed his new testament, an octavo volume in small pica type, of which 6,000 copies were printed. In Jan 1838 he accompanied W. Williams on a visit to the East Coast. When Captain Hobson arrived Colenso carried out most of the printing in connection with the treaty of Waitangi (of which he published in 1890 an authentic narrative based on his diary). From this time Colenso devoted himself to missionary work. He travelled a great deal in the north, the East Coast and Waikato in 1841-42, and in Oct 1843 sailed with Henry Williams for Port Nicholson. Landing at Castle Point, they walked overland to Hawke's Bay, where a site was chosen at Ngaruroro for a station to be opened by him.

Having completed two years at St John's College, Colenso was ordained deacon (Sep 1844) and four months later he took up his station. For some years he had charge of a very wide district, involving a great deal of travelling and affording opportunities of study in Maori language and lore and the natural sciences. He devoted much study to Maori arts, antiquities, myths and legends, and had a high reputation among scientists. In 1842 he published in the Tasmanian Journal of Science papers on New Zealand ferns and in 1843 a paper on fossil remains of the moa (discovered by W. Williams in 1838). In 1845 he traversed the Ruataniwha plains and travelled by inland Patea to Rangitikei. In 1844 he published in Tasmania an account of his explorations in 1841-42 and in 1845 a classification and description of some of the ferns he discovered. In 1847 he made a journey across the Ruahine range and thence by Onetapu and Roto-aira to the headwaters of the Moawhango. His authority on Maori subjects and the natural history of New Zealand was unquestioned. In 1851 (with Sir G. Grey) he founded the New Zealand Society for the Furtherance of Scientific Research, and in 1868 he was one of the most active members of the New Zealand Institute. He was a founder of the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Society (of which he was president) and a constant contributor to the transactions of the Institute. Abroad he was a fellow of the Linnaean Society and the Royal Society. In 1865 he wrote for the Dunedin Exhibition papers on the botany of New Zealand and the Maori race, and in 1871 a plea for Kereopa (Fiat Justitia); in 1888 Fifty Years Ago in New Zealand; in 1889 Ancient Tide-lore and Tales of the Sea; and in 1898 the first section of his Maori-English Lexicon, the dimensions of which have prohibited its continuation.

On the separation of Hawke's Bay from Wellington Colenso was elected to the Provincial Council for Napier Town (1859-67, 1871-75). He was acting-speaker for a while in 1871. In the Parliament of 1861 he represented Napier, but lost his seat to D. McLean (146 votes to 32). He was for many years inspector of schools for Hawke's Bay. He died on 10 Feb 1899. Colenso married Elizabeth (1821-1904), daughter of W. T. Fairburn.

Hawkes Bay P.C. Proc.; Colenso, op. cit.; Buller; J. G Wilson; Dunedin Indust. Exhibition (1881) catalogue (containing a list of Colenso's publications 1835-40); Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol 31, et pass; Dinwiddie; Hawkes Bay Herald, 11 Feb 1899; Evening Post, 7 Sep 1904; Daily Telegraph (Napier), 11 Feb 1899, 26 Nov 1924.

Reference: Volume 1, page 101

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