Role New Zealand Politician Spouse Jane Hardwick | Parents Gideon Mantell Name Walter Mantell | |
 | ||
Born 11 March 1820Lewes,England ( 1820-03-11 ) Died September 7, 1895, Wellington, New Zealand | ||
Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell (11 March 1820 – 7 September 1895) was a 19th-century New Zealand naturalist, politician, and land purchase commissioner. He was a founder and first secretary of the New Zealand Institute, and a collector of moa remains.
Contents
Early life
Mantell was born in Lewes, Sussex, England, the son of geologists Gideon Mantell and Mary Ann Mantell (née Woodhouse). He arrived in Wellington on the Oriental in 1840.
In 1848, Mantell was appointed to the office of commissioner for extinguishing native titles in the South Island.
Mantell left New Zealand as he did not feel right about trying to convince the indigenous Māori people to undersell their land and returned to England in 1856, where he met Geraldine Jewsbury, a woman eight years his senior. When in New Zealand, the Maori people called Mantell "Matara" (meaning chief in Māori) because they had a difficult time pronouncing his name; Jewsbury used this as a nickname for Mantell. When Mantell was in England he had difficulty finding work. He became restless at home as well as a tendency to act as a hypochondriac. Jewsbury encouraged him to write for the Westminster Gazette or to write a novel about New Zealand. Mantell eventually became tired of his friend's persistent advice. Jewsbury, however, wanted what was best for Mantell and felt deeply attached to him; she once proposed marriage to Mantell in a letter, but he declined her offer. By 1859 Jewsbury had ceased trying to win his love. Shortly thereafter, Mantell returned to New Zealand.
Political career
Mantell represented the Wallace electorate from 1861 to 1866, when he retired. He was the Minister of Māori Affairs in 1861 and 1864–65, and Postmaster-General briefly in 1862.
From 1866 until his death he was on the New Zealand Legislative Council.
Death and commemoration
He died in Wellington on 7 September 1895.
Mantell is commemorated in the names of the North Island brown kiwi Apteryx mantelli and the North Island takahē Porphyrio mantelli.