National Radio has produced a series of programs called "the
Darwin Lectures" to celebrate the upcoming 200th anniversary of
Charles Darwin's birth. NZ's somewhat limited involvement is
mentioned in Lecture 2, being mainly that Charles Darwin did not
have a high opinion of NZ based on the few days that he visited
and that NZ's 2nd Governor (Robert Fitzroy) had a somewhat more
significant role in the development of Darwin's most significant
theory. Though Fitzroy was eventually dismissed from the role of
Governor, apparently for his enlightened interpretation of the
Treaty of Waitangi, his shame at having involvement in the
development of Darwin's theory motivated him to make a splendid
contribution to science himself. The stories of Darwin and
Fitzroy individually are exceptional and when considered in
combination are all the more remarkable. This lecture (also from
Nat'l radio) regarding "Pardise Lost" and Evolution is one of
the better Darwin & Evolution pieces that I have come across in
years.