Whitcombe Road (Opunake)

Whitcombe Road in Opunake is named after the soldier, administrator, and journalist, Charles Douglas Whitcombe.

Whitcombe was born 7 September 1836 in Rochester, England. At 25 he joined General Garibaldi's forces in Italy where he quickly rose up the ranks before ill-health forced him back to England.

Having regained his health Whitcombe decided to immigrate to New Zealand. He arrived in 1864, in time to join the Taranaki Military Settlers and fight in the Second Taranaki War. After the wars he served as the local Provincial Secretary, Commissioner of Lands and held the intriguing title of "Sheriff".

Whitcombe left Taranaki in the 1880s for a position as personal secretary to Sir George Grey.

Later his love for the Pacific was ignited on a trip to Tonga as a correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He returned to the island nation and spent seven years as foreign secretary to the King of Tonga.

Whitcombe finally returned to Taranaki in 1902, sadly he died only 18 months later at the age of 68. At the inquest Dr Fookes gave evidence that, "the deceased's heart was so diseased that it was remarkable that death had not occurred long ago". He left behind a wife, two daughters and five sons.

His brother George established the well-known stationery firm, Whitcombe & Tombs (now Whitcoulls) with business partner, George Tombs.

Another brother, William, fought alongside Charles in the Taranaki Wars. As a result both Charles and William were granted land in Lepperton.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.