A Tribute to George Herbert Stubbs
Mr. Stubbs came to Mangatangi in l9l2 to take up his block of land, an area of 7213 acres.
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Our History
First European Settlers. Capt. Porter
Captain William Field Porter arrived in Auckland in 1841, having embarked with his family in his own brig, the “Porter” from Liverpool. In Liverpool his family owned a shipyard on the Mersey River with docking and shipbuilding facilities. The whole town gathered to farewell their very popular citizen who was then 57 years old.
The family established themselves in Auckland and in a short time Captain William Field Porter was appointed Attorney General, a position he held from 1841-44 under the Hobson Government of that time. He served on the Auckland Provincial Council from 1853, and also represented Suburbs of Auckland in the first House of Representatives. During some of this time he lived on Waiheke Island.
Meanwhile, 10,000 acres of land was owned by the Porter and Chamberlain associates. The fourth child of Captain W.F. Porter, William, who married Ann Munro of Waipu, lived at Mangatangi, and around 1866 his father moved there from Waiheke Island.
William and Ann’s fourth child, Herbert, was born here in 1868. There was a substantial home and out-buildings, a fine orchard and farming flourished. Captain William Field Porter died here in 1869, in his 87th year.
As a J.P., he was held in universal regard, by both the settlers and the Maori community, his obituary ascertains. His grandson, William Field Porter (b. 1865), who had been reared at Mangatangi was the last associated with this area, the land being sold in several blocks in the 1870’s. T.L. & S.G. Vining were purchasers of the homestead area, taking possession in 1872.
In 1891, William Field Porter, the younger, went to the Dutch East Indies, engaged in pearl fishing, timber, coconut and rubber plantations but remained domiciled in Auckland, where he died in 1927 at Waimauku.
Assistance by Mrs. Shirley Porter of Auckland and Mr. Dereck Hall, of Waerenga, is acknowledged in compiling this brief picture of the first colonists to the district.
View More About Our History
Exploring the journey: a comprehensive look at our origins, key milestones, and evolution through the years, celebrating the stories and achievements that have shaped our legacy.
Mangatangi 1916 L.A. Miller
Little did I think at the time that I would be returning in 1924 and spending most of my life…
Mangatangi Tennis Club
ln the early 1930’s an attempt was made to establish a Tennis Club in Mangatangi.
First European Settlers. Capt. Porter
Captain William Field Porter arrived in Auckland in 1841, having embarked with his family in his own brig, the “Porter”…
Early Sheep Farming and Shearing
In December l927 we did our first shearing at Mangatangi. In those days we relied on the Maori.
Kauri Bush Days
Maori had long used the gum for making torches, lamp black for tattoo pigments and mixed it with sow thistle…
Puketui. Smith Family
In 1957 the Smith family purchased from Mr. Ted Waller, a block of land comprising 956 acres of hill country…
The Cummings Family
John Cummings was born in County Antrim, Ireland in 1869 and came to New Zealand in 1874, on the ship…
Henderson and his Donkey
Richard A Henderson was the sole charge teacher at this (Mangatangi) school when it opened in July 1923.
Barton Family
The Barton family arrived from England in 1885 and after a period in Auckland, farmed in Onewhero and Pukekawa before…
Early Industries
A virgin country such as ours in the l9th Century had to rely on its natural resources. Our district was…
First Impressions of Mangatangi. 1915
In 1915 Mr. George S Johnston, set off from Auckland with a wagon drawn by two horses to Mangatangi.
