Jane Maria Atkinson (née Richmond; 15 September 1824 – 29 September 1914) was a New Zealand pioneer, writer, and the first

Pākehā Pākehā (or Pakeha; ; ) is a Māori term for New Zealanders primarily of European descent. Pākehā is not a legal concept and has no definition under New Zealand law. The term can apply to fair-skinned persons, or to any non-Māori New Ze ...

woman to climb

Mount Taranaki Mount Taranaki (), also known as Mount Egmont, is a dormant stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is the second highest point in the North Island, after Mount Ruapehu. The mountain has a secon ...

Early life

Maria grew up in a Unitarian household. The early death of her father, Christopher Richmond, caused financial strife for the family. At the age of 28, Maria and her family left for New Zealand along with the Hursthouses, Richmonds, and Ronalds. There were many inter-marriages between these family which became referred to as 'the mob' that settled around New Plymouth. The Richmonds arrived in

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

25 May 1853. They then settled in the early

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

colony. She and Arthur Atkinson had a shipboard romance and were married 30 December 1854.

New Zealand

Maria initially fulfilled the traditional role of pioneering housewife and mother. When she and Arthur moved to

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

in 1867 she became active in the community. She promoted women's suffrage, campaigned for a girl's college and ran a debate team. The Atkinsons allowed the newly opened

Nelson College for Girls , motto_translation = Loyalty, honesty and wisdom , type = State secondary, day and boarding , established = 1883; years ago , address = Trafalgar St , city = Nels ...

faculty to use their home, Fairfield House. In 1855 Maria climbed Mount Taranaki as part of a party including her husband. She was invited along to act as cook and became the first

woman to climb the mountain. She wore a pair of 'canvas trousers' for the climb.

Early life

New Zealand

References

Further reading