Many whalers married Māori women, who washed, mended and kept house at the stations. Edward Jerningham Wakefield reported that: ‘whalers’ wives are generally distinguished by a strong affection for their companion; are very quick in acquiring habits of order and cleanliness; facilitate the intercourse between whalers and their own countrymen; and often manage to obtain a strong influence over the wild passions of the former.’ One prominent whaler and trader who married a Māori woman was Worser Heberley, who lived and worked at Te Awaiti in the Marlborough Sounds. His first wife Te Wai Nahi was a prominent Te Āti Awa woman from Waikanae. They had two daughters and six sons.