British High Commissioner George Fergusson with the Ballantrae Collection which belonged to his father, former New Zealand Governor-General Sir Bernard Fergusson.
British High Commissioner, the Hon. George Fergusson was treated to a special viewing by Waikato University Vice Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford on April 1, of a collection of taonga his father Sir Bernard Fergusson loaned to the University over 40 years ago.
The Ballantrae Collection comprises of taonga presented to Sir Bernard Fergusson by Māori, during his time as New Zealand’s Governor-General from 1962-1967. The Collection features mere, adzes, pounamu, taiaha, tiki and patu, and was on permanent display in the New Zealand Collection of the University Library.
“This is the first time I have seen the collection since returning to New Zealand as High Commissioner but it’s always very heart-warming to see these precious gifts. I’m also very thankful to the university for taking care of the collection,” said Commissioner Fergusson, who visited campus with his wife Margaret, and daughters Samantha and Lizzy.
The Collection, which is temporarily on display in the foyer of the School of Māori and Pacific Development until renovations of the library are complete, also includes a series of other taonga which were gifted to Waikato University over the years.
Sir Bernard Fergusson was born in 1911 and educated at Eton and Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. When he became Governor-General of New Zealand in 1962, he followed in the footsteps of both his grandfathers, Sir James Fergusson and the Earl of Glasgow who were Governors of New Zealand and his father, Sir Charles Fergusson who was Governor-General from 1924-1930.
He was created Life Peer in 1972 and took the title Baron of Ballantrae after his hometown in Ayrshire, Scotland. During his time in New Zealand, Fergusson formed a close bond with iwi and in particular Tainui. Following his death in 1980, the late Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, established the Bernard Fergusson Memorial Scholarship in 1982, to assist tribal members enrolled at Waikato University with their studies.
Sir Bernard Fergusson’s connection with iwi also included his son, Commissioner George Fergusson, being inducted by the people of Ngāti Raukawa and christened with the name George Duncan Raukawa Fergusson. Commissioner Fergusson was appointed British High Commissioner to New Zealand in 2006, and will finish his term in May of this year.