Kōrero: Capital city

Difficult transport links between New Zealand’s North and South islands – and among the various colonial settlements on each of the islands – made travel to the capital, Auckland, time-consuming and hazardous. In April 1854, prior to the first meeting of the General Assembly, the Taranaki Herald reported on the chartering of a vessel to take elected members to Auckland for the inaugural meeting, with ‘a rumour’ (which proved correct) of a second vessel also being arranged.