Dieffenbach Street (Opunake)

This street is located above Opunake Bay overlooking the Tasman Sea. It was named after Johan Karl Ernst Dieffenbach, an intrepid German doctor, adventurer, scientist, and liberal. In December 1839 he climbed to the summit of Mount Taranaki, reportedly the first European to achieve the feat. His life is as notable as his ascent of the mountain.

Dieffenbach was a non-conformist who held liberal views on most topics. While studying medicine in Switzerland he was active in several revolutionary student groups. Dieffenbach's unconventional viewpoints began to land him in some trouble and in 1837 he was expelled from Switzerland.

He moved to London where he met the scientists Charles Darwin and Richard Owen. It was Owen, credited with the European discovery of the moa in New Zealand and founder of London's Natural History Museum, who was likely to have inspired Dieffenbach to come to New Zealand.

Dieffenbach sailed here on the Tory and arrived at Port Nicholson in 1839, along with William Wakefield, Edward Jerningham Wakefield and Charles Heaphy.

The journey was probably filled with scholarly debate and one can only imagine the robust political and philosophical discussions that ensued when Dieffenbach aired his controversial ideas.

During his time in New Zealand, from 1839 to 1841, Dieffenbach not only climbed Mount Taranaki but also gained a deep understanding of the flora and fauna of the land. He also recognised the negative impact of colonialism on Māori. However his views were not encouraged at the time so he returned to London.

In 1843 Dieffenbach published, Travels in New Zealand, in which he documented his discoveries and philosophies.

Although he wanted to return to New Zealand, he died in 1855 before he could do so.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.