John Studholme

John Studholme (1829–1903) was a 19th-century British pioneer of New Zealand, farmer and politician in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.

Early life John Studholme was born in 1829 the son of John Studholme, a landowner in Cumberland, now part of Cumbria, England.

In 1854, to purchase cattle John and Michael Studholme both walked from Lyttelton to Dunedin (some 250 miles) at a time when there were no roads or bridged rivers. This made them the first Europeans to make such a journey, and along with William Henry Valpy the first Europeans to explore the South Island extensively on foot. Arriving in Dunedin, their cheque was refused at the cattle market since there was no bank yet in Otago to process it and no business transactions between the two provinces existed. John walked back to Lyttelton to get cash, leaving Michael with the cattle. He returned crossing rivers alone with the cash, blankets and provisions at great risk. From Dunedin after having paid for the cattle, the Studholme brothers took the cattle back to Christchurch crossing the Waitaki River. This would have been the first such crossing.

Coldstream In 1867, the Studholme Brothers purchased of flat tussock land known as the Coldstream Estate for £35,000 (about £3,800,000 in 2018 value). It was named after the cold stream that rises near the homestead. Ernest Gray had originally taken up a pastoral lease there in 1854 and had been developing it as a sheep and cattle run. The brothers drained of swamp and started a large cropping programme as well as running 26,000 sheep there. The Rangitata River runs through the land. At the time it was the smallest of the Studholme estates.

John Studholme established Coldstream as his primary homestead, with Michael having previously done so at Waimate. By 1875, were being used for crop farming, running twenty six-horse teams with a permanent staff of 35 men. A settlement was firmly established with a post office, store, church room, library, recreation centre, butcher, and blacksmith.

Time in Parliament

As a party-independent politician, he represented the Kaiapoi electorate from to 1874 when he resigned. He then represented the Gladstone electorate from to 1881, when he retired. He stood for Ashburton in 1902, and came second.

Studholme was repeatedly asked by Prime Minister William Fox to join the government; he resolutely refused, however. and the Union Insurance Company. He was one of the first Canterbury magistrates, and was a first member of the Provincial Council for the Timaru district, which at that time comprised all the provinces south of Ashburton.

John and Lucy had five children: Mount Studholme, inland from Waimate, South Canterbury, is the source of the Otaio River. Part of Kaweka Forest Park in Hawke's Bay is named the 'Studholme Saddle' as it is where three of the largest Studholme family farms (Karioi, Ruanui, and Ohauko) met. The Upper and Lower Studholme Passes in the Southern Alps between the headwaters of the Landsborough and Hunter Rivers are also named after the family.

For better or worse, in 1870 Michael Studholme introduced the red-necked wallaby to New Zealand releasing them at his estate Waimate.