Background
Throughout the second half of the nineteenth century James Hector was one of the most significant scientists, advisors and administrators in New Zealand. Following three years in Otago, he arrived in Wellington in 1865 to be the first Director of the New Zealand Geological Survey. With a small team of loyal assistants he quickly established the Geological Survey and set up the Colonial Museum, which he was director of for decades to come.
From then on he was involved with a number of significant organisations — some of which he started and many of which he managed or directed. These included: the Colonial Laboratory, the Met Office, the New Zealand Institute (he edited the Transactions of the Institute for 35 years), the Colonial Observatory and time service. He became custodian of weights and measures. He was the first manager of the Botanic Garden in Wellington and was a foundation member of the University of New Zealand Senate and later the Chancellor for 35 years. Over the years he was involved in a number of exhibitions both at home and overseas. These included
Not bad for a man who had probably thought he would be in New Zealand for just the three years he was contracted to the Otago Provincial Government to conduct a geological survey of that province – an appointment he had taken up in 1862. Before this the Edinburgh trained Scottish medical doctor had spent three years with the Palliser Expedition exploring parts of Canada from Lake Superior to the west coast.
Awards and honours he received included. Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Fellow of the Geological Society of London, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Order of the Golden Cross from the Emperor of Germany (1874), CMG (1875), the Lyell Medal from the Geological Society of London (1875), KCMG (1887), Founders Medal of the Royal Geographical Society (1891)