By John O'Hare

KERIKERI: The arrival of missionary George Clarke to the Bay of Islands in 1824 was a significant moment for Ngāpuhi rangatira Hongi Hika.

Clarke was a gunsmith, and Hongi was keen to put his weaponry skills to use. However, things didn’t go quite the way he had hoped. 

George and his wife Martha arrived in Kerikeri in April 1824 on board the French corvette Coquille. The meeting of the two men became a little frosty, however, when Hongi heard that Clarke was in New Zealand to practice his religious vocation rather than his gunsmithing: 

“I get nothing but missionaries, and if he wants to give me pleasure he can go back from where he came from,” Hongi muttered, in a conversation recorded by French scientist Renee Lesson, who was travelling on the Coquille. 

“It’s an armourer I need to maintain my weapons, and the Society promised me one, but I’m still waiting for him.” 

Despite the unpromising beginning, the Clarkes soon established themselves in the Kerikeri Basin where George and Martha started a basic school within Kemp House, in the shadow of Kororipo Pā which was Hongi’s base. 

George Clarke quickly came to like and respect Hongi. And Hongi’s initially unfavourable response to Clarke may have changed as a result of an incident a few months later, recorded by Henrietta Clarke – one of George and Martha’s daughters. 

“On one occasion the great Ngapuhi Chief Hongi met with an accident. A tree fell on him and he became unconscious and was very much hurt; the Maoris were very frightened and asked Father if he could do anything.”

In those days the cure was quite often as bad as the affliction – and medical science had not yet caught up with the idea that relieving an unconscious patient of blood is not a good idea. As Henrietta recalled: 

“…bleeding was in fashion and it was a remedy for many things so Father said he would bleed him. The Maoris were horrified at the idea of drawing the chief’s blood.” 

They reluctantly agreed to the chiefly ‘bloodletting’ – but with one proviso; that if Hongi died, then “Father’s and Mother’s lives would also be taken.”

Given the prospect of having to pay the ultimate price if things didn’t work out, George Clarke was understandably a little apprehensive. 

“You can imagine the anxious time waiting for the results,” wrote Henrietta. “But to their great relief consciousness returned and [Hongi] recovered.”

Whether it was George Clarke’s medical intervention – or possibly the fervent prayer he may well have been muttering under his breath while carrying out the procedure – things ended well. 

George and Martha Clarke lived at Kemp House until 1830 when they went on to establish the Te Waimate Mission Station at Waimate North. Today, both places are Tohu Whenua and cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. 

Martha taught some of the local girls in a room at the back of Kemp House, while George tutored the boys in a schoolroom / chapel which he designed and built himself.

Visitors to Kemp House today can still see the room where Martha taught her predominantly Māori students, along with other evidence of the Clarkes’ educational activities. These include a slate used for writing practice belonging to Hongi Hika’s daughter Rongo, who attended the school. 

The Clarkes were long-term residents at Kemp House – though it’s tempting to wonder what might have happened if Hongi Hika’s medical condition had turned out differently.