New Zealand Wars: Postal History Collection

This collection of letters, covers and other historical material was acquired from Gerald Ellott at various times since 2001. The collection includes items from as early as 1818, but most relate to the New Zealand Wars period (1845-1872) and particularly the 1860s. Gerald was one of New Zealand’s foremost postal historians and compiled the collection over many decades.

Gerald Ellott, MNZM, RDP, FRPSL, FRPSNZ

Gerald Ellott (1926-2024) was six or seven years old when he first started collecting stamps. For nearly sixty years he collected, researched, and exhibited the early postal history of New Zealand and was honoured for his research with a number of national and international awards.

Gerald signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1988, was a recipient of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie Research Medal, and was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philately in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

New Zealand Wars Postal History Collection

The collection includes items from as early as 1818, but most relate to the New Zealand Wars (1845-1872) period and particularly the 1860s.  The collection includes letters written by soldiers serving in British regiments in New Zealand, as well as letters from members of colonial militia and volunteer units. The content and context of the letters provide a wealth of historical, social and military information about this period.

Many of the correspondents and/or recipients are well-known individuals, who include James Busby, William Colenso, Charles Baron de Thierry, Bishop Pompallier, Tāmihana te Rauparaha, Wiremu Kīngi Moki Te Matakātea, Wiremu Tako Ngātata and Hohepa Tamaihengia. Others are soldiers writing to their family and friends.

The postal markings on the letters and envelopes are also informative, allowing us to track the movement of British troops and the opening up of post offices in their wake. Temporary post offices were set up in front-line redoubts and camps, allowing for the delivery of official despatches and also personal letters that would keep up morale among the troops. Some of the post offices came and went with the soldiers, but others remained as Europeans subsequently settled in those areas. The wars forced thousands of Māori to flee their lands, opening up large areas for Pākehā settlement. The collection demonstrates that the development of the colony and expansion of empire went hand in hand with the development of the postal service.

Further reading

Ellott, Gerald. n.d. Profile. Gerald J. Ellott personal website. https://ellott-postalhistorian.com/profile

Flutey, Scott. 2017. War by Post and Bullet. Te Papa blog. https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2017/02/10/war-by-post-and-bullet/

Flutey, Scott. 2018. War by Post and Bullet. Soldiers of Empire blog. http://www.soldiersofempire.nz/blog/war-by-post-and-bullet