Born in Bath, John Sylvanus Cotterell was one of several influential Quakers involved in the establishment of Nelson.
While working as a surveyor in Bristol, he became interested in colonisation and the welfare of ‘aborigines'. He arrived in Nelson on the Fifeshire in February 1842 and, soon after, advertised his services as a surveyor and land agent, as well as opening a store selling household goods.
Between March and July, Cotterell completed surveys of the Waimea Plains and Waimea West. He described his new lifestyle to his mother: "You would smile at our independence, when on these excursions, only making a large fire, roasting pigeons or ducks....then rolling up in a blanket and lying on the bare ground or grass." 27 March, 1842.
As Cotterell's knowledge of the Maori language increased, a mutual respect developed between himself and local Maori. Cotterell developed very good relations with Maori in Motueka and, during exploration of inland districts, was often accompanied by his trusted Maori guide Pikiwati.
In 1842 John Cotterell and fellow surveyor H W Burt established a regular boat service from Nelson to what became known as Cotterell’s Landing sited about 150 metres north of the Pearl Creek Information Board. The twice weekly ferry was Nelson’s first transport service and it meant people could avoid hours of negotiating the swampland between Waimea and Nelson. A small wharf allowed the boat to load and unload passengers and goods.
Cotterell pioneered the Tophouse route to the Wairau on 21 November, 1842. His sighting of more than 80,000 hectares of extensive grassy plain across the divide altered the prospects and raised the spirits of the Nelson settlers.
By March, he was surveying the Wairau for the New Zealand Company. Ngati Toa disputed the Company's claim and tried to stop the surveys by non-violent means, burning the huts and evicting the survey parties.
Cotterell was part of the ill-fated party sent to the Wairau to deal with the well-prepared Ngati Toa. An armed conflict ensued, although, as a Quaker, Cotterell refused to bear arms. Several of the men fled, but Arthur Wakefield dissuaded him from fleeing, saying he would surely be shot. Cotterell surrendered to a Maori he knew, but he was seized by another and killed. Cotterell’s companion, Pikiwati, was devastated by his death.
If John Cotterell had not been killed, in the Wairau Affray at the young age of 23, it is likely he would have become a person of some standing in early colonial society.
The road that now bears Cotterell’s name was the original route to Rabbit Island. Prior to 1957 when the first bridge was built, a horse and wagon was the only way to get there. This tradition continued until about 1970 by Mr Rod O’Connor of Cotterell Road. He took the children of Appleby School to Rabbit Island/Moturoa for their school picnic on a wagon. Even after the bridge was built, it was only possible to use the road at low tide so visitors had to be very “tide-aware” to avoid being marooned on the island for long periods.
Information thanks to The Prow
Page edited to add that cache GC45AYX GTT#3 Cotterell's Landing by Marchwood is 150 m from the Landing site.