Black Sheep

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Invasive: the story of Stewart Smith Aug 02, 2020

Show notes

In the 1960s Stewart Smith began a one-man crusade, releasing thousands of invasive fish into New Zealand's rivers, lakes and streams. Why? Well it had something to do with communism and a lot to do with childhood nostalgia.

Between the 1960s and late 2000s Stewart Smith went on a one-man crusade, releasing thousands of invasive fish into New Zealand's rivers, lakes and streams.

One kind of fish he introduced is now so widespread it's been declared an "acclimatised species", meaning the authorities have basically acknowledged it is impossible to remove it from the wild.

"The amount of damage he did was incalculable," says science journalist Charlie Mitchell, who wrote a feature on Smith for Stuff.co.nz.

"He could be positioned alongside the people who released stoats and weasels and ferrets in New Zealand," says Bryan Winters, who wrote an authorised biography of Smith entitled That Pommie Bastard.

So who was Stewart Smith?

He was a devout communist with a stubborn streak a mile wide, a conspiracy theorist who spent years locked up in a conscientious objectors camp, and an environmental imperialist dedicated to the cause of "improving" recreational fishing in New Zealand.

Stewart Smith helped infest the Waikato river with koi carp, which are now a major pest species in the river.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Colonial Mastermind: the story of Edward Gibbon Wakefield (Part 2) Jul 26, 2020

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In part two of Black Sheep's series on Edward Gibbon Wakefield we see theories of "systematic" and "humanitarian" colonisation run into bitter realities. The result is conflict, death and disaster. For Wakefield and for Māori.

In the first episode of this two part series about Edward Gibbon Wakefield we talked about the origins of the man once described as a 'Founding Father of New Zealand'.

In this episode we see how his plans to colonise Aotearoa ran into some bitter realities.

Edward Gibbon Wakefield believed Aotearoa was the perfect place to put his theories of "Systematic Colonisation" into practise.

Working with rich and influential allies he set up the New Zealand Company to promote his plans. He wrote thousands of books and pamphlets promoting colonisation.

Dr Phillip Temple, author of A Sort of Conscience, said much of Wakefield's writing painted New Zealand as a "vision of paradise".

Take this example:

"Great valleys occupied with the most beautiful rivers, their feet washed by the ceaseless south-sea swell, their flanks clothed with the grandest of primeval forests ... The fertility of its soil, the amenity and salubrity of its climate, the peculiar adaptation of the country for the residence of a great commercial and manufacturing people."

Wakefeild was a master of propaganda. The New Zealand Company even arranged to ship a Māori man called Te Waiti to London so he could promote the planned colonies with statements like this:

"I like it. I do not know what my countrymen would like. I think they would like it too, because they like even the bad people now. I think they would like the gentlemen."

It's hard to know if Te Waiti (also known as "Nayti") really did think colonisation would be good for Māori, or if he was just saying what the New Zealand Company wanted him to say.

Wakefield himself waved away concerns about the effects of colonisation on indigenous people. He claimed "the common effect ... of mere colonisation has been to exterminate the aboriginal race. This, however, is not a plan of mere colonisation: It has for its object to civilize as well as to colonise."

He said the settlers would "adopt" and "instruct" Māori. He argued the colonists would be "civilising a barbarous people," who could "scarcely cultivate the earth".

Part of the reason Wakefield felt he needed to paint his colonisation plans as a positive for Māori was to combat a powerful indigenous rights lobby group in Britain…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Colonial Mastermind: the story of Edward Gibbon Wakefield (Part 1) Jul 19, 2020

Show notes

Edward Gibbon Wakefield used to be known as "The Father of New Zealand." But modern historians have pointed to the disastrous impact of his colonial policies on indigenous people, his misleading propaganda and, (not least) his abduction and marriage of a teenage girl.

Edward Gibbon Wakefield used to be known as 'The Founding Father of New Zealand.'

He was described as a humanitarian visionary, the driving force behind the colonisation of New Zealand and - according to some - the entire British Commonwealth.

But Wakefield makes for a problematic kind of parent.

Modern historians have pointed to the disastrous impact of his colonial policies on indigenous people, his misleading propaganda and, not least, his abduction of and marriage to a teenage girl.

In this two-part episode of Black Sheep, William Ray investigates Wakefield's life and legacy.

Troublemaker

Edward Gibbon Wakefield came from a middle class home in Cumbria. He was born in 1796, to a family known for their involvement in banking and enthusiasm for humanitarian reform.

But his early life was chaotic.

As Dr Philip Temple explained, "Edward Gibbon's grandfather lost his money. So they had the status but not the cash."

Dr Temple is author of A Sort of Conscience, a biography of the wider Wakefield family.

He said it was a troubled family. Wakefield's mother suffered from recurring bouts of malaria and his father was often absent; "Either philandering with other women or occupied by his own pet reform projects."

In that context it's unsurprising Wakefield had trouble at school. Dr Temple said he was expelled from two and refused to attend the final one.

"He was clearly one of those children who are disruptive because they can't work within the status quo, but it's often those people who turn out to be leaders or innovators in society. He also clearly, from an early age, had the gift of the gab and was a damn good writer. "

Wakefield used those communication skills to land his first job: a messenger in the British Diplomatic service.

He dreamed of becoming a Member of Parliament, but to do that he needed a LOT of money. In his day it was all but impossible to become an MP unless you were the equivalent of a multi-millionaire.

Luckily, Wakefield had a solution to his money problems. When he turned 20 he eloped with 16-year-old Eliza Pattle, heir to a gigantic family fortune.

But this marriage wasn't just about money. "It was clearly a love match," Dr Temple said. …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Raider: the story of Felix von Luckner Jul 10, 2020

Show notes

Felix von Luckner was a child aristocrat who ran away to sea, he captained the last square-rigged sailing ship ever to serve in combat, he sailed 3,000 kilometers across the Pacific in a lifeboat. He also led the most embarrassing jailbreak in NZ history.

Felix Von Luckner led a very interesting life.

He was a child of aristocracy who ran away to sea.

He fought in the biggest naval battle of the First World War.

He captained the last square rigged sailing ship ever to be used in combat.

He sailed three thousand kilometers across the Pacific in a lifeboat.

He single-handedly saved his hometown from destruction during WWII.

And he punched a member of the Gestapo straight in the face.

He was also responsible for what probably ranks as the most embarrassing prison break in New Zealand history. Oh Felix ... where to even begin?

THE RUNAWAY ARISTOCRAT

Felix Von Luckner was born in June 1881 to a family of German military aristocrats but didn't really seem to enjoy his childhood in the lap of luxury. At 13 years old, he ran away from home and jumped on a Russian sailing ship.

According to his autobiography he spent the next few years getting into adventures all over the world.

Some of these stories are obviously made up - but others are probably true. Life aboard a sailing ship in the late 1800s was often dramatic and dangerous .

"It was the final fling of tall ships as a commercial entity, so they were often undermanned. Very hard work, very dangerous work. People did die quite regularly." explains Sam Jefferson, author of The Sea Devil, a biography of Von Luckner.

Von Luckner himself was seriously injured in a fall from the rigging on the high seas (by then he was about 17). He ended up stranded in Jamaica with a broken leg and no money. But when he was begging for food on the beach he saw something on the horizon which changed his life - a beautiful white ship. It was SMS Panther - a brand-new warship of the German Imperial Navy.

Some friendly sailors from the ship helped him get back on his feet, he travelled back to Germany and enlisted with the Navy.

Eight years had passed since he had left home and when he returned to his parents it was as Naval Lieutenant Felix Von Luckner.

THE SEEADLER

Von Luckner's most famous exploits came in World War One as captain of SMS Seeadler, the last square-rigged sailing ship ever to be used in combat. …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Story Of Statues Jul 05, 2020

Show notes

In this special episode of Black Sheep, William Ray looks at the history and controversy of historical statues in New Zealand.

Statues have become a focus of global protests following the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States.

In New Zealand statues of Captain Cook and Governor George Grey have been targeted for graffiti, while a statue of Captain John Hamilton was completely removed.

In this episode of Black Sheep, William Ray uncovers the stories behind some of these problematic monuments - and looks at different ideas of what should happen to them next.

When I was little, I used to play in the fountain next to Centre Place mall in Hamilton.

So when I saw the news that a statue of Captain Hamilton was being removed from that spot, I was confused. I couldn't remember that statue standing there when I was younger.

It turned out, I was right to be confused - the statue was actually only erected in 2013. An action which Tom Roa (Ngāti Maniapoto) says "defies belief".

My hometown was named after Captain John Hamilton. It was built on the site of the Ngāti Wairere Pā, Kirikiriroa after that settlement and much of the surrounding area was unjustly confiscated by the Crown under the New Zealand Settlements Act.

Captain Hamilton never got anywhere near Kirikiriroa; he died at the Battle of Gate Pā in Tauranga in 1864.

As historian Vincent O'Malley's report on street names and statues in Hamilton makes clear, Captain Hamilton was an obscure figure who only spent a few months in Aotearoa before he was killed. It was a reasonably heroic kind of death (he was shot while leading a column of men to relieve the troops who had been trapped in the Pā) but he certainly wasn't a significant player in the wars.

The same can't be said for other statues that have been a focus of protest in Aotearoa. Men like Colonel Marmaduke Nixon, who led a raid on the peaceful village of Rangiaowhia, and Governor George Grey who played a major part in instigating the Waikato Wars.

Interestingly, Governor Grey also instigated the building of a lot of the statues which are now the focus of so much anger and grief.

"Grey himself was a great enthusiast for statues and memorials," said historian Jock Phillips, author of To The Memory: New Zealand's War Memorials.

"He believed we were a 'new' country. All we had was Māori culture, and that didn't count ... So a new society needed to get to work and start to put up a few heroic figures to develop a new tradition and a sense of colonial pride."…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Aotearoa History Show! Oct 07, 2019

Show notes

The story of New Zealand and its people, from its geological origins to modern day. Hosted by William Ray and Leigh-Marama McLachlan, with animation by Chris Maguren. Made possible by the RNZ/NZ On Air Innovation Fund.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The story of White Supremacy Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

In this special episode of Black Sheep, produced in the aftermath of the 2019 Christchurch Mosque Shootings, William Ray looks at the history of white supremacy in NZ.

Since the attack in Christchurch, many people have called for New Zealand to examine its history of white supremacy.

In this special episode of Black Sheep, William Ray looks at the origins of this ideology, how it warped and changed over time, and how people have fought against it.

By William Ray

I missed the Christchurch shooting.

My girlfriend and I were out walking the Routeburn Track that weekend. Swimming in Lake Mackenzie, watching kea stalk unattended backpacks, listening to tourists gush about how beautiful and lucky and peaceful this country is.

On the Saturday afternoon we were picked up by a bus on the Milford/Te Anau Highway. The driver knew we'd all been out contact with the outside world, so she made an announcement over the intercom.

"I've got some really bad news for everyone."

I don't remember exactly what she said after that.

As soon as we got back into cellphone range my girlfriend loaded up a Reddit thread about the shooting which I read over her shoulder. There was one post which really stuck out at me:

"This is not what New Zealand is. New Zealand is a land of peace where all, regardless of race and religion are welcome. Violence, racism, and discrimination are not welcome and do not define who or what New Zealand is."

I get what that person was trying to say but for the past three years on Black Sheep I've been looking at violent, racist, discriminatory New Zealanders.

John Bryce, the racist Native Affairs Minister. James Prendergast, the Supreme Court Justice who said the Treaty of Waitangi was a "simple nullity". Roy Courlander, the New Zealand soldier who literally joined Nazi Germany's Waffen SS. And many, many, more.

These people don't define New Zealand, but they do represent a significant force in New Zealand history.

White supremacy.

In this special episode of Black Sheep, we look at the history of New Zealand through the lens of white supremacy. We look at how the ideology influenced the voyages of Tasman and Cook, how it was used to justify the worst atrocities of the New Zealand Wars, and how it found new targets in New Zealand's non-British migrant communities.

We also look at how some Pākeha fought to oppose this ideology and ask some tricky questions about what that dissent means for how we think about racist New Zealanders of the past. …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Death Sentence: the story of NZ's executions Feb 11, 2019

Show notes

The death penalty has started wars, won elections, outraged the population and ruined lives. Join William Ray for this live podcast recording at the Bread and Circus Festival in Christchurch with guests Dame Fiona Kidman, Vincent O'Malley and Mark Derby as they unpick the history of executions in New Zealand.

The death penalty has started wars, won elections, outraged the population and ruined lives. Join William Ray for this live podcast recording at the Bread and Circus World Buskers Festival in Christchurch with guests Dame Fiona Kidman, Vincent O'Malley and Mark Derby as they unpick the history of executions in New Zealand.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Swashbuckler: the story of Bully Hayes Dec 16, 2018

Show notes

Bully Hayes is famous as a charismatic "pirate" of the South Pacific. But most stories gloss over his more heinous crimes: Slavery, sexual assault and the brutal abuse of his crew.

Bully Hayes is a man who made his mark on the Pacific. His image today is as a swashbuckling rogue who swindled his way from China to California, from Apia to Akaroa.

Bully could leap from the floor of a ballroom and kick the ceiling, he captured the notorious corsair Eli Boggs, he was the ringmaster of a circus on the Australian goldfields.

It's a life story that's inspired several books and even one Hollywood movie starring Tommy Lee Jones. But those stories usually skip over the nastier side of Bully Hayes: His brutal treatment of his crew, his career as a slaver, the multiple accusations of rape and paedophilia.

"He had this reputation of being a scoundrel from birth," says maritime historian Joan Druett, author of The Notorious Captain Hayes. "But in those days you could print anything you like, and if it was sensational enough and popular enough - all the other papers would copy it!"

Bully Hayes (real name: William Henry Hayes) was an international criminal celebrity. Through the 1860s and 70s his name appeared in newspapers as far afield as Hawaii and Singapore. Virtually every paper referred to him as "The Notorious Captain Hayes".

Some of the stories printed in the papers were true. For example his astounding capture of the American pirate Eli Boggs - beating him into submission as the pair grappled in the ocean, surrounded by the burning wreckage of Eli's ship. This despite Eli being armed to the teeth - literally! (he'd jumped overboard with a cutlass clamped in his jaws).

Other stories are more dubious and some seem to have been made up by Bully himself. "He liked having this spectacular reputation, and he added to it," Joan Druett explains.

According to one origin story (almost certainly invented by Bully) he was a US Navy Captain on the China station who was Court Martialed after hanging 25 Chinese pirates without a trial.

"But according to what records there are he 18 or 19 years old at the time. Which makes it a bit unlikely he was in charge of a US gunboat," says Joan.

A more credible story is that Bully learned to sale as a merchant on the Great Lakes near his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.

He is then said to have got a job with the Chinese Navy, but it didn't take long for this position to turn into a criminal enterprise with the aid of another American captain, Ben Pease.

Bully and Pease sailed all around China extorting merchants for "protection" from pirates. "They had a protection racket. They were mobsters," Joan explains…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Soldier of Fortune: the story of Gustavus von Tempsky (Part 2) Dec 09, 2018

Show notes

In the second of Black Sheep's two part series, we find out how the Prussian mercenary Gustavus von Tempsky went from a relatively famous soldier to an uber-hero of New Zealand's colonial mythology.

One who followed glory's beacon from his boyhood till he fell,

Dying like a valiant soldier, after fighting long and well.

Brief the record, yet it seems like some wild legend or romance;

This is a stanza from "How Von Tempsky Died" an insanely romantic ballad penned by Thomas Bracken nearly 20 years after Major Gustavus von Tempsky was shot dead at the Battle of Te Ngutu o te Manu.

In Bracken's day Von Temspky's fame was only reaching new heights. He had become the great hero of the New Zealand wars who wielded his bowie knife with the same skill as his paintbrush; whose troops worshiped him and whose enemies feared him.

This narrative held sway in New Zealand for nearly a hundred years, the darker side to his story was mostly ignored. In the last 40 years that's started to change.

"He's been called just a bloodthirsty mercenary, a glory hunter and a terrorist," says Andrew Moffat, writer and researcher at Puke Ariki Museum in New Plymouth.

Von Temspky was a deeply contradictory figure, even in his own time. His troops may have loved him but some of his fellow officers despised his self-promotion and political ambition. He may have written critical accounts of atrocities at Ōrākau and Rangiaowhia but he also praised "scorched earth" raids against Māori in Taranaki - and he participated in those raids personally.

For further reading on von Tempsky: G.F. von Tempsky, artist & adventurer / Rose Young; with Heather Curnow and Michael King. 1981

Publisher: Martinborough, N.Z: Alister Taylor, 1981

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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