The End of the Harbour
- Kirsten Edwards
- May 14, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 30
Author: Elsie Locke
From the inside front flap: "One February day in 1860, the cutter Betsy sails down the calm Manukau harbour in New Zealand bound for the village of Waiuku. Aboard is an eleven-year-old boy, David Learwood, who has travelled with his parents from the other side of the world to settle here. David finds that life is far from calm beside the harbour and around the Kentish Hotel where the Learwoods are employed. Waiuku is a trading post on the fringe of Maori country. The Englishmen are the newcomers filled with ambition, and the Maoris are restless at the growing loss of their land. When news comes through of fighting in Taranki only two hundred miles away, everyone is shaken. Soon David finds new friends; his schoolmate Adam, Captain Champion, Doctor Topp; and a bond of uncommon depth links him to the Maori boy Honatana. All are swept into a chain of events which includes the visit of the Maori king to a colourful conference; an epidemic of influenza; a cattle-hunt with a tragic outcome and the tense inquiry by a Maori court; much activity on the harbour; and the untiring search of the Maori leaders for peace with justice."
I’ve been diving into Elsie Locke’s works, and her second historical novel, The End of the Harbour, is a fascinating departure from The Runaway Settlers. While her earlier book centred on a single family’s journey, this one follows David, a young English immigrant, and the town of Waiuku, set twenty years after the Treaty of Waitangi.
Waiuku is situated at the bottom of Manukau Harbour, Auckland. There are very well-illustrated maps inside the back and front covers, but here I've provided a Google map for reference.
The Kentish, which is the hotel where David's family stayed and worked in the book, still exists today!
As a newcomer in a predominantly Maori region, David grapples with an unfamiliar culture and language. His friendship with Honatana, a Maori boy his age, becomes his anchor, guiding him through this new world. Against the backdrop of the First Taranaki War, the Waiuku community faces tensions—rumours of conflict, a large hui attended by the Maori King, a tragic shooting of a young Maori worker, a divisive court case, an influenza outbreak, and debates over shared worship in the church. Through it all, Maori King Potatau’s call for peace, rooted in his Christian faith, resonates deeply, especially in his poignant speech:
"Hearken, O my people! In the past you followed the Maori gods, but now it is the great God in Heaven. I have only three things to offer you. First, hold fast to the faith; second, hold fast to love; and third, hold fast to the law. Our land has changed. The great God is above all. The white skin, the red skin and the dark skin all bathe in the same water; and the white thread, the red thread and the dark thread are all threaded on the one needle. That is all."
King Potatau's speech, The End of the Harbour, Elsie Locke, page 63, Jonathan Cape, 1968.
Locke’s skill in historical fiction shines here. She balances Maori customs and settler perspectives with care, acknowledging the missionaries’ influence without oversimplifying the era’s complexities. I was moved by her refusal to cast anyone as a clear villain or victim, though the story’s end left me with a quiet sadness for the Maori people’s losses. The friendship between David and Honatana, likened to the biblical bond of Jonathan and David in 1 Samuel 20:42, was a highlight. Their growing connection, especially David’s heartfelt wish to be Maori, added emotional depth. The Christian themes—woven through King Potatau’s faith, the missionary Reverend Robert Maunsell’s presence, and biblical references—felt authentic and respectfully handled, unlike many New Zealand histories that sidestep or criticize this aspect.
"And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city."
1 Samuel 20:42 King James Bible
That said, the book’s complexity gave me pause. With a large cast and multiple overlapping events, the political and social threads could feel overwhelming, especially for younger readers. I sometimes struggled to keep track of everyone and everything, and picking up the book after a break meant flipping back to refresh my memory. I also expected a bigger climax given the buildup of tension, but the story resolved more quietly than I anticipated. Compared to the focused narrative of The Runaway Settlers, this one felt like it was juggling too many threads at once. Still, I enjoyed it, even if I was ready for the end.
I recommend The End of the Harbour for readers aged 12 and up who enjoy historical fiction with depth. Parents should note the use of the word “nigger” once, which may require discussion. For those interested in New Zealand’s post-Treaty history, Maori-settler relations, or stories of friendship and faith, this book is a rewarding read. Locke’s thoughtful storytelling has me eager to explore more of her work.
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