1827 First whaling stations

Offshore whaling had been commonplace in New Zealand waters since 1791. However, it was not until 1827 that the first shore whaling stations emerged. Operating from April to October each year, they processed whales for oil and whalebone. Primarily financed by Australian merchants, there were approximately 30 stations around New Zealand by the end of the 1830s, sited mainly on the North Island's East Coast and in the lower South Island. The size of operations varied. For example, the large Weller station in Otago boasted at its peak approximately 80 cottages and 120 men, a quarter of whom were Māori. It was common for the Pākehā workers to be welcomed into local tribes and to marry Māori women.