Through the New Zealand Company, the first European settlers began arriving in New Zealand in the early 1840s among whom were several sets of great grandparents and great great grandparents of mine. The original idea was to write a short history of my father's family and one of my mother's but I became so fascinated by these pioneers and their stories that I wanted to learn more about them and their ancestors. I found Scottish farmers seemingly dispossessed by war; ancestors from Devon who emigrated to America in 1642; I found admirals and generals who sailed and fought all around the world and I found generations of Welsh carpenters, builders and farmers. Their descendants packed themselves and their families into tiny boats and sailed to the bottom of the world. They were fearless and determined to succeed in a brand new world. I am so proud of their achievements and so proud to be part of their story.