Story: Germans

Page 2. Contribution to New Zealand life: 1800s

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Nineteenth-century German immigrants and visitors had a notable influence in many fields. Among them were:

  • scientists Sir Julius von Haast, Ernst Dieffenbach, and Ferdinand von Hochstetter
  • artists Eugène von Guérard, Wilhelm Dittmer and Anton Teutenberg
  • musicians Michael Balling, Julius Lemmer and Karl Schmitt
  • businessmen Bendix Hallenstein, Joseph Kühtze, Louis Ehrenfried and his nephew Arthur Myers
  • missionaries Johann Friedrich Riemenschneider, Johann Friedrich Wohlers, Johannes W. C. Heine and Carl Sylvius Völkner.

Most Germans settled in English-speaking towns, and the larger cities had German-speaking quarters. Some German immigrants also founded rural communities. Although some of these early settlements still exist, in many cases there is little sign of their origins.

How to cite this page:

James N. Bade, 'Germans - Contribution to New Zealand life: 1800s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/germans/page-2 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by James N. Bade, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2015