Josiah Firth and Wiremu Tamihana

JOSIAH CLIFTON FIRTH came to New Zealand in 1855.  He lived in Auckland with his wife and 12 children.  His house was called 'Clifton" and it had a tower.  He and some other men had several businesses.  They had a flour mill and a brickworks.  In 1856 and 1859 he explored the Waihou River and the Matamata Plains, which were controlled by Wiremu Tamihana.

WIREMU TAMIHANA was the son of Te Waharoa of the Ngati Haua.  His father was a leading warrior chief, but Wiremu did not want to fight against others.  He became a christian and built an amazing pa and Peria.  His village had a huge church, a Post office, a flour mill and a school.  He grew crops of wheat, maize, kumera, peaches and potatoes.  Tamihana thought tribes should be peaceful and united and worked hard to form the Maori King movement.