James Busby

Edinburgh-born James Busby (1802-1871) was British Resident, a consular representative, in New Zealand from 1833. Busby’s main duties, as outlined in instructions from Governor Richard Bourke of New South Wales, were to protect the more orderly British settlers and traders and prevent 'outrages' by the less orderly Europeans against Māori.

He was involved in drafting the 1835 Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand and in early 1840 he helped William Hobson draft the Treaty of Waitangi. The document was explained, debated and signed at the great gathering at Busby's Waitangi home – now the 'Treaty House'. 

Busby also has a claim to fame as our first winemaker. He trained in Europe as a viticulturalist, and brought a collection of grapevines that helped to found the Australian wine industry. In the late 1830s he established a vineyard at Waitangi. He died in 1871 while visiting England for an eye operation.