Robert Mair
BiographyRobert Mair was born in 1830 at the Bay of Islands, the first son of trader Gilbert Mair and his wife Elizabeth, nee Puckey. He was present with his parents at the signing of the treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
Robert became a sailor and until his father's death in 1857 he captained Te Tirarau's trading vessel 'The Petrel'. Te Tirarau was a Māori leader in the Whangarei area.
When Gilbert Mair died Robert gave up his seafaring life to look after his mother and sisters.
He worked as an interpreter for the Native Land Court and held numerous clerical positions with the court and with Whangarei councils. He was a fluent speaker of Te Reo, the Māori language.
Robert Mair married English born Mary Ellen Boult in 1861 and they had eight children. Robert built a house on the Mair family land near the Hatea River.
A knowledgeable botanist, Robert was very interested in New Zealand flora. During WW1 many events were held on the Mair property raising money for patriotic funds. Robert Mair enjoyed allowing the public access to his property for boating, swimming and picnics. He wished this to continue, so presented a large area to Whangarei as a gift for the New Year of 1914 and this became Mair Park.
In 2018 Tawatawhiti or Mair's Landing in the Upper Hatea River was added to the New Zealand Heritage List as a place of heritage significance.
Date of Birth16 June 1830Place of BirthWahapu, Bay of Islands, NorthlandDate of Death10 February 1920Place of DeathWhangarei, NorthlandOccupationSailor, licensed interpreter, clerk and returning officer
Robert became a sailor and until his father's death in 1857 he captained Te Tirarau's trading vessel 'The Petrel'. Te Tirarau was a Māori leader in the Whangarei area.
When Gilbert Mair died Robert gave up his seafaring life to look after his mother and sisters.
He worked as an interpreter for the Native Land Court and held numerous clerical positions with the court and with Whangarei councils. He was a fluent speaker of Te Reo, the Māori language.
Robert Mair married English born Mary Ellen Boult in 1861 and they had eight children. Robert built a house on the Mair family land near the Hatea River.
A knowledgeable botanist, Robert was very interested in New Zealand flora. During WW1 many events were held on the Mair property raising money for patriotic funds. Robert Mair enjoyed allowing the public access to his property for boating, swimming and picnics. He wished this to continue, so presented a large area to Whangarei as a gift for the New Year of 1914 and this became Mair Park.
In 2018 Tawatawhiti or Mair's Landing in the Upper Hatea River was added to the New Zealand Heritage List as a place of heritage significance.
Date of Birth16 June 1830Place of BirthWahapu, Bay of Islands, NorthlandDate of Death10 February 1920Place of DeathWhangarei, NorthlandOccupationSailor, licensed interpreter, clerk and returning officerDiary
Photo
Collection
Auckland Museum https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collection/object/am_library-photography-33301
Whānau
MotherElizabeth Gilbert PuckeyFatherGilbert MairSiblingsCaroline Bedlington 1828 - 1917Major William Gilbert Mair 1832 - 1912Marianne Fraser 1834 -1893Henry Abbott Mair 1836 - 1881Charlotte Buller 1838 - 1891Jessie Eliza Davis 1840 - 1899Captain Gilbert Mair 1843 - 1923Matilda Helen Sissons 1845 - 1927Emily Frances Seccombe - 1848 - 1902Marella Sophia Mair 1850 - 1884Lavinia Laura Jackson 1852 - 1936ChildrenMary Elizabeth Mair 1862 - 1863Edith Minnie Steadman 1864 - 1934Ernest William Mair 1866 - 1954Ethel Berslin Harrington 1869 - 1899Leslie Edward Mair 1871 - 1939Sydney Arthur Robert Mair 1873 - 1961Gilbert Henry Mair 1874 - 1966Winifred Emily Norton Herbert 1883 - 1909PartnerMary Ellen Boult 1839 - 1929Date Married1861Place of MarriageWhangarei, Northland
FatherGilbert MairSiblingsCaroline Bedlington 1828 - 1917Major William Gilbert Mair 1832 - 1912Marianne Fraser 1834 -1893Henry Abbott Mair 1836 - 1881Charlotte Buller 1838 - 1891Jessie Eliza Davis 1840 - 1899Captain Gilbert Mair 1843 - 1923Matilda Helen Sissons 1845 - 1927Emily Frances Seccombe - 1848 - 1902Marella Sophia Mair 1850 - 1884Lavinia Laura Jackson 1852 - 1936ChildrenMary Elizabeth Mair 1862 - 1863Edith Minnie Steadman 1864 - 1934Ernest William Mair 1866 - 1954Ethel Berslin Harrington 1869 - 1899Leslie Edward Mair 1871 - 1939Sydney Arthur Robert Mair 1873 - 1961Gilbert Henry Mair 1874 - 1966Winifred Emily Norton Herbert 1883 - 1909PartnerMary Ellen Boult 1839 - 1929Date Married1861Place of MarriageWhangarei, NorthlandRelates to
PeopleCaroline Bedlington
Further Information
Robert Mair. Northland Room Digital Collections, accessed 31/03/2026, https://wdc.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/4934
