George Lightband

George Wales Lightband (1804 – 22 October 1891) was a pioneer settler in Nelson, New Zealand.

Biography Lightband was born in Worcester, England, in 1804. He married Mary Ann on 11 June 1824. They immigrated with three boys (including Martin and William) and one girl.

Lightband had learned the tannery trade and continued this occupation in New Zealand. He was inventive and pioneered many processing in the leather industry. He was the first person in the colony who produced parchment.

Lightband selected a section on Nile Street near the Maitai River and the family camped on the land the day after their arrival. He was given some gooseberry plants by William Fox and for many decades, the family celebrated each anniversary of their arrival in Nelson by making the first gooseberry pudding of the season for that day. A devout Methodist all his life, His later house, "Wainui", still stands.

Lightband's wife died on 25 August 1890 aged 88. He died at their home on 22 October 1891.