1839 Honey bees brought to NZ

When Mary Bumby landed at the Wesleyan Mission Station at Mangungu, Hokianga, in March 1839 she brought two hives of honey bees from Sydney (where they had been established since 1822). Mary arrived with her brother John, who had been appointed by the Methodist Church as their new Superintendent of Missions in New Zealand. Missionaries were responsible for the introduction of a number of European agricultural practices and apiary was one of them. New Zealand had two native species of bees but neither was suitable for producing honey.

Mary Bumby was born at Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1811. She and her brother sailed for New Zealand aboard the James in September 1838. She kept a detailed diary from the day she left her Yorkshire home to the birth of her first child in New Zealand three years later. Her diary includes graphic accounts of her first impressions of New Zealand.

John Bumby was drowned in June 1840 and later that year Mary married the missionary Gideon Smales. She noted in her diary: ‘well I have made up my mind after much consideration and prayer to become a Missionary’s wife. My soul is deeply humiliated at the thought of the responsibility of such a situation.’ They were posted to a mission station at Pākanae, towards the Hokianga Heads. In October 1841 their first child was born. After that Mary had no time to keep a diary.

Mary Bumby died at sea on her way back to England in March 1862.