The Story.
Patrick Norton, a young Irishman, was 20 years old when he appeared before the judge at County Galway on a charge of theft. Convicted and sentenced, he was transported to New South Wales in 1810 and never returned to his native Ireland.
Patrick set sail on a seven-month voyage on the convict ship Providence from Cove to Cork to Sydney Harbour, serving out his seven-year sentence for the crime of stealing. He eventually escaped and began a tenacious career as a sailor and whaler. He crewed on coastal trading vessels, faced the dangers of the southern ocean on sealing ships and then became a pioneer settler and shore whaler at Te Awaiti in the Marlborough Sounds.
A decade before the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, legendary whalers such as Patrick Norton, James Heberley, Jacky Guard, Joseph Thoms, William Keenan, John Love and Jimmy Jackson lived and worked with Māori under the fierce control of Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha. A key aspect to survival in this pre-colonisation period was integration by marriage with Maori women. Patrick Norton married Makareta Tangitu, a woman of high position in Ngāi Tahu; whereas the other whalers co-habited with Te Awaiti women.
Legend has it, in 1850 Patrick Norton made his way to Old Christchurch, and happened to cross paths with John Shand. Rumour has it that John swore he would never lease his ‘Shands’ building to the colourful character that was Patrick Norton. John would be shaking his head, letting a small smile sneak through, seeing the name ‘Paddy McNaughton’ hang proudly at the front of the building.