Shetland Islanders on Campbell Island, about 1904

Shetland Islanders on Campbell Island, about 1904

For many years, in both the 19th and 20th centuries, New Zealand was a favoured destination of people emigrating from Scotland’s remote Shetland Islands. A misguided belief that they would find bleak Campbell Island similar to their homeland led to the employment of Shetlanders by a leaseholder who hoped sheep farming on the island would succeed. It didn’t.