The Weller Brothers, Edward
(1814-1893) and Joseph (1804-1835) established a network of Whaling
stations on the Otago and Canterbury Coasts in the early 1830's. The base
station was established at Otakou near the entrance to Otago harbour in
late 1831 after Joseph & Edward set sail from Sydney in the "Lucy
Ann" with a cargo of Whaling equipment, muskets, rum &
tobacco.
Fire destroyed all their buildings in 1832, but by 1833 the first
shipments of whale oil and bone were sent to Sydney. Joseph died of
consumption in 1835 and Edward took charge soon after marrying Paparua
daughter of Tahatu. After Tahatu died in 1836, he married Nikura, daughter
of Te Matenga Taiaroa.
For a while the Whaling station was very successful with ships being
sent further and further a field. At it's height the station employed
about 80 men.
In addition to Whale products the settlement exported Potatoes, timber,
flax and fish, in addition to supplying a wide range of provisions
including fresh meat. Whales declined in the late 1830's and Edward
returned to Sydney ill in 1840 after his second wife died. He never
returned to New Zealand, living the rest of his lfe to Maitland in New
South Wales until his death by drowning in 1893
