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Edward Weller, along with his brother Joseph Weller, was among the first permanent European settlers in southern New Zealand.
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In the 1830s, the Weller brothers established a shore-based whaling station at Otakou on the Otago Peninsula, which became one of the most important and active in the country.
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The Weller station at Otakou served as a major base for whaling operations and trade, attracting a wide range of workers and playing a significant role in early colonial development.
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Edward had business interests across the South Island, extending his influence well beyond Otago.
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He married Paparu (Isabella) Tahuriorangi, a Māori woman from the Rotorua district, and had several children with her.
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Weller's story reflects the early economic ventures of European settlers and the interactions between Māori and Pākehā during the pre-colonial and early colonial period.
https://www.toituosm.com/collections/smith-gallery/wall-1/edward-weller