Story: History of immigration
James Busby, British Resident in the Bay of Islands, prepared this estimate of New Zealand’s European population in February 1836. It might be noted that there were about seven times more adult men than women, and that three-quarters of those in the North Island lived in the Bay of Islands, Hokianga, or further north. Most of those in the South Island lived in the Marlborough Sounds. Busby completed another estimate in 1839 of those north of Thames, which suggested there were 1,100 people. Historians believe there were about 2,000 by that date in the whole country.
Source: James Busby, ‘Despatches from the British Resident, 1833–1839.’ qMS-0344. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
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