Curious why many left for New Zealand? (General)

by jhopkins , Monday, April 18, 2011, 23:39 (4972 days ago) @ slowhands

Lord Bledisloe seems to be one of the few 'imported' Governors General who is remembered fondly and with deep respect in NZ. He threw himself into the life of the country, and had a strong association with yachting and rugby.

He is memorialised in a number of ways, but the most visible is the Bledisloe Cup (and a thudding great thing it is too), which is played for every year by the All Blacks and the Wallabies rugby teams in a series of three games.

Perhaps less well known nowadays was his contribution to Māori - Pākehā relationships - from Wikipedia:

"His social conscience was much appreciated during the Depression era, as was his insistence that his salary should be cut as were the salaries of public servants at the time. Bledisloe also contributed to improved Pākehā - Māori relations, purchasing the site where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed and presenting it to the nation as a memorial. In 1934, the site was dedicated as a national reserve. The dedication ceremony attracted thousands of people, both Māori and Pākehā."

A great man, and a credit to the Forest.