Atkinson Street (Waitara) and Atkinson Road (Hurworth)

The name Atkinson looms large in New Zealand's early history and there is no shortage of information about Harry Albert Atkinson and his role in New Zealand's colonial history.

During his early years in England, Harry Atkinson developed a keen interest in New Zealand; largely sparked by conversations with his friends, the Richmond's, who were planning to emigrate to New Zealand.

So he and his brother, Arthur, along with several Richmond family members, arrived in New Plymouth in 1853 on the Sir Edward Paget. He quickly secured employment, working alongside a local cobbler and then in a saw pit. His earnings enabled him to purchase land. Once established, he married Amelia Jane Skinner and they started a family. He built Hurworth Cottage, currently a notable registered historic building, as his family home. Later, after Amelia's death in 1865, he married his cousin, Annie Smith.

When war broke out in 1860, he joined the Militia as Captain of No 2 Company of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers. All through the conflict he was driven by an uncompromising desire to acquire land for British settlers. The plight of the Māori was of no concern to him and his harsh views on Māori are well reported.

The war had shown that the military skill and strategies of Māori could not be underestimated and Harry didn't feel that they could have confidence in continued British military dominance. So he turned to politics as a means to better secure settler interests. Given his conservative views and the political climate of the time, he was able to climb the political ranks.

Ultimately he became New Zealand's Premier, a role he held four times, although one stint only lasted eight days. He was eventually defeated by Liberal John Ballance in 1891.

Harry died of heart failure on June 28, 1892. A grave in Wellington's Karori Cemetery marks the final resting place of this determined colonist.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.