Cort Henry Schnackenberg

Cort Henry Schnackenberg was born in Wilstead, Germany in 1812. When he was 18, he moved to London, where he began studying bookkeeping and began going to the Wesleyan church. He was sent to New Zealand as an agent among the Māori to purchase flax and other articles and then became a missionary and a Reverend for the Wesleyan Church, establishing churches across the North Island of New Zealand. Schnackenberg was known for his work with Māori and had great influence with them. His work was especially prominent in the area where he lived which was located around the Kawhia harbour area. Thus, his collection holds his letter books and journals of his time working in Raglan covering the years 1846 to 1880. Mr Schnackenberg was married to the late Annie Jane Allen Schnackenberg (1835 - 1905) in 1865.