The pass called Haast

Charles Cameron is not now a name that anyone remembers as the European discoverer of one of the biggest passes in the South Island.
That’s because it’s called Haast Pass after Julius von Haast who was second to see it and got it named after him.
In January 1863, gold prospector Charles Cameron, exploring the area found the pass that had been known to Maori for some time.
It’s almost certain however that Cameron did not walk completely through the pass.
A month later Haast led a party in and ended up being the one the pass was named after. He disputed Cameron’s claim - but in 1881 Cameron’s powder flask - which he had lost on the trip, on Mt Cameron west of the pass, was found and inscribed on it was the date, so his claim was established - but by then the pass was named.
Charles Cameron had been born in Morven, Scotland to John and Janet Cameron on September 14, 1820.
When he was 20, he and the rest of his family came to New Zealand on the Blenheim on the last day of 1840.
There is no way he was the first person through the pass. Ngāi Tahu at the time knew about it. It was used to trade precious greenstone and food.
A map had been drawn for the explorer Edward Shortland in 1844. Others also came close but it was Cameron, while he was hunting for gold, who managed it, making him the first European.
It was only a few months later that Haast, who was Canterbury’s provincial geologist at the time, who took six weeks on foot to do it along with four others.
Haast of course did a geological survey of the area as he walked.
By 1880, there was a decent packhorse track but work on a road did not begin until 1929.
Cameron himself had married Catherine McKinnon in 1860 in Wellington and they had six children.
He lived mostly quietly except for a brush with the law in 1869 when a still was found on his Turakina property. There was no evidence linking him to the actual still, but he was still fined.
Up until his death, Cameron kept excellent health - and only a few days before he died had ridden into town for a sports day. He was ill when he got home so went to stay with his son-in-law and daughter where he died on February 12, 1909 in Fordell, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, at the age of 88, and was buried in Turakina Cemetery.
Photo from Te Papa’s collection.​