GITTOS, WILLIAM (1829-1916) was born at Ingleton, Durham, and came to New Zealand with his father, Benjamin Gittos (1808-84), in the ship James, which reached Auckland by way of Hobart and Port Nicholson in 1840. The family lived for a time in tents on the site of Auckland before proceeding in the James to Bay of Islands and travelling overland to Hokianga. There his father started a farm. They suffered great privations and dangers during the early years of their residence, and on the outbreak of Heke's war were compelled at short notice to leave for Auckland in the Government brig Victoria.

William, now about 16, remained in the district and, with Maning (q.v.), saw something of the fighting, especially about Okaihau. He received some education in a night school established by his father for the benefit of his own children and those of neighbouring settlements; and soon acquired a fluent knowledge of the Maori language. For the Maori themselves he evinced a warm sympathy. Kindly and genial in disposition, he was genuinely interested in their welfare, not less on the temporal than on the spiritual side. He was particularly helpful in their dealings with the pakeha, and for some years supervised their leases, collected their rents and kept their accounts. Sports and games also he fostered with advice and encouragement. The Gittos family in 1857 established themselves in Auckland as leather merchants and developed tanning with native barks (such as the tanekaha and towhai). On the outbreak of war in 1863 they started a tannery at the Whau. William, on moving to Auckland, went into the building trade, and in 1853 he visited Melbourne to widen his experience. His health was not good and in a few years he returned to Auckland, where in 1856 he was admitted to the ministry of the Wesleyan Church and appointed to Kaipara to minister to Europeans and Maori. In the same year he married a daughter (1830-1906) of the Rev John Hobbs. She was born at Mangungu and in 1850 joined the staff of Wesley College at Auckland under Joseph Fletcher. Gittos's skill as a boatbuilder and bushman and his knowledge of medicine were of great value in his ministrations at Kaipara. In every settlement he established a Bible class, and Maori schools for boys and girls required constant supervision. When the Matilda Wattenbach arrived in 1862 with the first Nonconformist settlers to establish the Albertland settlement Gittos visited the immigrants and held an open-air service on their first day ashore. He so fully gained the confidence of the Maori tribes in the north that though war prisoners escaping from Kawau received every hospitality from the local tribes, they were unable to create any disaffection. At his suggestion the Government repatriated the Waikato prisoners. Gittos displayed tact, courage and judgment in his dealings with the Maori and was a wise counsellor for the Government.

In 1886 he withdrew from this service in impaired health and took up his residence in Ponsonby as superintendent of the Maori mission both north and south. In 1891 he moved to Waikato, where he was for three years in close touch with the King movement and gained the confidence of Tawhiao. In 1894 Gittos returned to live in Auckland, where he died on 26 May 1916.

Buller; Brett, Albertlanders (p); Morley; N.Z. Herald, 7 Aug 1884, 27 May 1916.

Reference: Volume 1, page 167

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