Immigrating to New Zealand in the early days of the colony, and living to the reputed age of 110 years, Henry Burling witnessed a lot of change in the world.
Whilst spending most of his life in NZ working as a farmer, his early employment included taking up odd jobs and short-term contracts doing work such as gardening, road construction, labouring for surveying parties, and as a messenger delivering official correspondence from Wellington to outlying settlements. Before immigrating to New Zealand he worked for a silk and satin printer.
Henry is also known for his early interactions and experiences with Maori, including the Ngāti Toa chiefs Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata; and for being the first settler in the area where the town of Featherston is now located, where he established the first licensed premises and place of accommodation in the area.
