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Story: Indians

The Mellish entering Sydney Harbour

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The Mellish entering Sydney Harbour

British East India Company ships such as the Mellish, which brought supplies to Australian convict settlements in the early 19th century, often had Indian crew members. When the ships stopped at New Zealand on the return journey to pick up cargoes, a few of these men deserted and settled among Māori people. They became the first Indian settlers in New Zealand.

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National Library of Australia

Reference: nla.pic-an9576808-v

by Edward Duncan

Permission of the National Library of Australia must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Indians – Early immigration, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/1822/the-mellish-entering-sydney-harbour (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 July 2024.