He was acting Governor of New Zealand from 1854 to 1855 and Patron of the Auckland Museum when it opened in 1852. In appreciation and proof of the ‘abilities, integrity and urbanity’ which characterised Wynyard’s official residency in New Zealand from 1845 to 1858, he was presented three hundred gold sovereigns by ‘the Inhabitants of the City and Province of Auckland.’

Wynyard purchased this centrepiece from the renowned London makers Smith & Nicholson who specialised in naturalistic fantasies of presentation silver, and had shown works at the Great Exhibition in 1852. The ornate form of the testimonial is characteristic of the rococo-revival style popular in early to mid-nineteenth century England, with its combination of a complex, curvilinear style and floral elements of the rococo, and the newly popular naturalism of the Victorian period. Wynyard’s Testimonial is consciously patriotic in its New Zealand subject matter – the emblematic British soldier and maori male, female and child and the ponga (silver tree fern) exemplify nineteenth-century taste for the allegorical in decoration, and gave a readily understandable significance to presentation pieces as a mark of regard and esteem.

from August, 1845 to October, 1858

in which time he filled, for various periods, the following Offices in the public Service

Lieut Governor of the Provence of New Ulster, Superintendant of the Province of Auckland

Officer administering the government of New Zealand. Member of the Executive Council

of his Excellency the Governor

Member of the Legislative Council of the colony. Colonel of Her Majesty’s 58th Regiment

and officer commanding Her Majesty’s Troops in New Zealand”

“His Excellency Governor T. Gore Brown CB

His Honor John Williamson Superintendent

His Lordship Bishop Selwyn Chief Justice Arney

F.A. Bell I. Blackett Walter Ewen J.A Gillfilan

J.W. Bain Wm Connell Dr. Evitt John Grigg

H.C. Buluea Hugh Coolaghan Dr. Fisher Geo. Graham

J. Balous Mrs. Churton Flynn Pat Corman

D. Burn Archd Clark Revd H.J. Fynes James Holt

Dr. Bennett John Coleman T.S. Forsaith T. Holmes

Thomas Beckham E.Cafler Walter Graham John Hall

Wm. Buckland F.E. Campbell W.S. Graham Joseph Hargraves

Alfred Buckland James Delworth Sir Osborne Gibb Bart Dr. Harsent

J.S. Baylis Dublin Recruit W. Gisbourne H. Hardinton

J. Busby John Duffies R. George J. Howell

J.C. Jearrad Miss Malson B.E. Porter F.G. Steward F. Smith

J.G. Johnson Capt. McDonnell RN Wm Powditch Andrew Sinclair P. South

H.J. Jarvis F.W. Merriman J.M.Philson James Simms R.B.Leisk

Edward King J.P. du Moulin Capt. Porter G. Smallfield Joshua Thorpe

Michael Keily E. d Mayne E.d Powell Wm Swainson W.C. Wilson

S. Kempthorne Geo. MacElwaine Pierce R.B. Shulders James Williamson

Dr. Knight Albin Marlin J.C. Petley M. Summerville Fred Whittaker

Piri Kauwau Ewing Mac Can Richd Ridings E.W. Stafford W.B. White

Revd J.F. Loyd John Macfarlane George Rich Dr. Sinclair Hartley Webster

E. Lonsdale John Mitchell Robertson C.H. Montressor Smith S.A. Wood

J.C. Lowe L.O.Brien D. Rough A. Shepperd Wm Young

Donald McLean T.S. Oliver Wm Richmond J.G. Symonds Major Nixon

Major Matson Thos. Outhwaite Thos. Russell Dennis Scullan

Mrs. Matson Daniel Pollen MD John Salmon H.P. Stark