John Bryce
John Bryce was born probably on 14 September 1833 in Glasgow, Scotland to parents John Bryce (a cabinet-maker) and Grace McAdam. Bryce junior along with his older brother, younger sister and father travelled on the Bengal Merchant to New Zealand where they settled in Wellington. The family later moved to Hutt valley. Bryce was not formally educated and settled into farming life at a young age, working for two years in the goldfields in Australia. Coming back, he settled in Brunswick, Wanganui in 1853 where he later married (Elizabeth Ann Campbell) and had fourteen children; six sons and eight daughters. Bryce pursued a political career and entered politics in 1859. Bryce was on the Wellington Provincial Council in 1862 serving for Wanganui and Rangitikei, resigning in 1863 on principle. He returned in 1865 and in 1866 was voted to represent Wanganui in the General Assembly. He further resigned in 1867 due to failing health. Bryce returned to the General Assembly, representing Wanganui in 1871 holding the seat until 1882, going on to represent Waitotara until 1887. Bryce became chairman for the Native Affairs Committee from 1876 to 1879 and became minister for native affairs from 1879 to 1884. Bryce first met Tohu and Te Whiti when they undertook the non-violent resistance campaign in the Waimate plain involving the removal of survey pegs. Due to this, he introduced the Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners’ Trials Act 1879 which would enable the government to imprison the ploughmen and fencers for up to two years without trial. Due to ‘the constant differences of opinion’ [1] Bryce resigned from the cabinet and in 1881 William Rolleston took over his job. Due to the heightening conflict between the government and the Maori of Taranaki, Bryce was called back to cabinet to put into effect his policies of breaking up the Parihaka settlement with Rolleston, on his last night in office (19 October 1881) sending a letter to Parihaka, advising them that they had 14 days to ‘submit to the law of the Queen’ [2] or risk losing the establishment. Following the Invasion (5 November 1881) Bryce was appointed the minister of native affairs from 1882-84. Bryce further lost his seat in 1887, however in November 1889 returned to the house as a member for Waipa. In the 1890 election, Bryce took the seat for Waikato. During his political career, Bryce was opposed many times on differentiating conflicts and issues of an evolving New Zealand. Bryce quite often threatened to resign if his views were not agreed too and he was regarded as an opinionated man of strong will; at times a tyrant. Following his retirement, and the publication of his book in 1903, it was reported that Maori on the west coast remembered him as ‘Bryce kohuru’, ‘Bryce the murderer’.
John Bryce was a significant figure in the Invasion of Parihaka and the movement against the Taranaki Maori. Bryce embodied Pakeha values, at the time, and was the voice for Pakeha who opposed the Maori settlement and of Maori in New Zealand. Bryce’s actions can be seen as brash and unforgiving but like many Maori in a similar position, he was standing up for what he thought was ‘right’.
[1] http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2b44/bryce-john
[2] http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2b44/bryce-john
John Bryce was a significant figure in the Invasion of Parihaka and the movement against the Taranaki Maori. Bryce embodied Pakeha values, at the time, and was the voice for Pakeha who opposed the Maori settlement and of Maori in New Zealand. Bryce’s actions can be seen as brash and unforgiving but like many Maori in a similar position, he was standing up for what he thought was ‘right’.
[1] http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2b44/bryce-john
[2] http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2b44/bryce-john