The scientific exertions of an enterprising colonial son: Walter BD Mantell

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlthough not a palaeontologist himself, Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell’s enduring contribution to the conduct of New Zealand colonial science was his collecting of fossil moa bones, which were sent to London for Richard Owen to catalogue. In a similar catalytic way, his administration of the Colonial Museum and the New Zealand Institute enabled others, especially James Hector, to devote more of their time to science. Recent emphasis on WBD Mantell’s negotiations to purchase land in the South Island from Māori tribes and on his political career (Evison HC. 2010. New Zealand racism in the making: the life and times of Walter Mantell. Lower Hutt: Panuitia Press), largely ignores his contribution to colonial New Zealand science, and particularly to his ‘exertions’ on moas. This short communication, originally presented as a poster at the ‘Finding New Zealand’s scientific heritage’ conference, attempts to redress the balance.