Governor king of New South Wales and his Maori Guests 1793–1805 Tom D Fremantle In 1994 a delegation of Maori from the Bay of Islands (New Zealand) arrived on Norfolk Island 750 miles to the north. They brought with them gifts, which are now on display in the island’s little museum to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the enforced visit of two of their ancestors to Norfolk Island where, for six months, they were guests of the Lieutenant Governor, Philip Gidley king. king’s personal contribution to the Maori was recognised at the time and clearly it was valued highly enough to remain in the collective memory for an impressively long time. In 1787 Lieutenant Philip Gidley king had been appointed second lieutenant onboard the sixth-rate HMS Sirius (22), the frigate...,1 the frigate adapted as flagship for Captain Arthur Phillip, who had been commissioned as Captain General and Governor to lead an expedition of eleven ships to create a convict settlement at Botany Bay in New South Wales.2 king was among the first officers to land at Botany Bay in January 1788 and reported in his journal the first contact that he and Governor Phillip had with the natives: … soon after discovered a number of ye natives who halloo’d & made signs for us to return to our boats, having only three Marines with me & Lieut dawes I advanced before them unarmed presenting some beads & Ribbands, two of the Natives advanced armed, but would not come close to me, I then dropt ye beads & baize which I held.3 9 Captain Philip Gidley King, Lieutenant Governor Norfolk Island, 1788–1796, Governor New South Wales 1800–1806. Artist Unknown. (Mitchell Library Sydney, New South Wales)
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