The Moonlight Legacy

In the 19th Century, European settlement in New Zealand called for men of action as well as those with management skills. Scotsman George Fairweather Moonlight had both. Although unschooled, he was bold, strong and self-assured with a natural talent for leadership.

Remembered mainly as an exceptional gold prospector he also achieved much in his brief eight years as unchallenged leader of the Murchison (Hampden) community.

His untimely death in 1884 was sadly mourned by Nelson people and particularly touched those in Murchison who regarded him as uncrowned “king”. One hundred and fifty years on, his gold prospecting and his leadership have both left their enduring stamp on the Murchison region.