Story: Irish

John Robert Godley

John Robert Godley

Less than 2% of New Zealand Company settlers were Irish, although a few leaders such as John Robert Godley ('the founder of Canterbury') were of Anglo-Irish background. Godley's family had settled as merchants and landowners in Killegar, County Leitrim, in the 17th century. Thomas Woolner's statue of Godley was erected in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, in 1867. It was the first public statue to be imported into New Zealand from Great Britain.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-22744; F
Photograph by Alfred Charles Barker

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Irish - Migration 1800–1850', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/23/john-robert-godley (accessed 18 April 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2015