PUCKEY, WILLIAM GILBERT (1805-78). William Puckey, who had been a sea captain living in Cornwall, was one of the earliest lay missionaries in Tahiti under the London Missionary Society. When they were driven out in 1798 he went to New South Wales, where he came in contact with Marsden, with whom he made several visits to New Zealand (the first in 1819-20). His son William Gilbert, was born at Penrhyn, Cornwall, on 5 May 1805, and came to Australia as a small boy when his father returned there. They took up land at Parramatta. In 1819 they came to New Zealand with Marsden, Puckey having offered his services to erect the buildings for the mission at Kerikeri. He also at Marsden's request made a survey of the harbours of Hokianga and Kaipara.

Puckey, junior, who was quiet in demeanour and fond of the natives, soon acquired a good command of the Maori language, and he entered the service of the mission in 1821. In 1831 he married Matilda, daughter of the Rev R. Davis. His parents having returned to Australia, Puckey in 1833 established a new mission station at Kaitaia amongst the Rarawa.

Not being ordained, he was assisted by the Rev Joseph and Mrs Matthews. He attended at St John's College with a view to entering holy orders, but as it would have necessitated leaving Kaitaia with only one ordained clergyman he continued to labour as a layman throughout his life. In 1837 the weatherboard house was completed and in 1843 the church. In that year Puckey was slightly wounded while mediating between Nopera Panakareao and his enemies. He had great influence with the Aupouri and Ngapuhi tribes, amongst whom he lived. His knowledge of Maori was invaluable to Bishop William Williams in the first translation of the New Testament (1837), and he still collaborated in 1844, when he was regarded as one of the best Maori scholars. In 1846, with his son (Walter), he went to Herekino to protect the wreck of H.M.S. Osprey. In that year he established bees at Kaitaia, where he had a good flock of merino sheep. He built several whaleboats and the schooner Phantom, burned lime and shells for building and agriculture, established a printing press, constructed bullock drays and bridges and opened outlying schools. Puckey died on 27 Mar 1878, and his widow on 15 Jul 1884.

W. Williams, William Gilbert Puckey, 1929 (p); Marsden, L. and J.; Jackson; Ramsden; Carleton; Stock; N.Z. Herald, 21 Jul 1884.

Reference: Volume 2, page 96

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