The Good Citizen

Thomas Ryan was sent from Ireland to New Zealand as a baby with his mother and other family members in 1864 'by arrangement' after an 'unsuitable' liaison. He went on to score the first points for the New Zealand rugby team, win one of the first inter-colonial yachting contests, become a distinguished artist and put tourist services at Taupo on a firm footing by running a steamer service across the lake and helping stock it with rainbow trout. He married the daughter of a Maori chief and became a devoted family man.