Pain Collection

Pain Collection

Mr George Pain

"Mr George Pain (senior) arrived in Wellington on the Oriental in January 1840. His son, also named George, was born in Wellington in 1846. George Pain junior is the owner of this collection. As a young man, he walked over the Rimutaka Hills and was employed as a shepherd for two years. He then started to sell goods from pack horses and could be described as a travelling salesman - thus the items in his collection came from Rotorua and Gisborne, as well as from the Wairarapa. He had a good knowledge of the land and was highly respected. He established the first general store in Martinborough, he was also a farmer, landowner and stockman. He was recognised as a good judge of horses. His homestead was named 'Okoroire' which can be translated as Oko: one who never sits still and Roire: the king of the road. He collected Maori weapons and Maori art/craft throughout his life. His travelling trade combined with a likeable and highly respected character help to explain how George Pain accumulated such a large collection of Maori artefacts. George Pain died in 1937." (Source)

His collection was given to the Wellington City Council in 1944 by Mary Pain of Martinborough. It is now housed in the Museum of Wellington City & Sea. They seem to render the name as Paine in some places. Some of the collection is of late 19th century pieces.

See also Cyclopedia of New Zealand