in 1840 clarke's father was made protector of aborigines by the recently appointed lieutenant-governor, captain hobson. the seat of government was transferred to auckland, and there the elder clarke bought a large block of land from the maoris for the government. in january 1841 his son was appointed a clerk in the native department of the civil service of new zealand. in february 1842 he was translator at the trial of wiremu kingi maketu, who was the first māori condemned to death for murder. clarke had already formed the ambition of becoming a clergyman, but for five years he remained in the government employ, first as an interpreter, then as a maori advocate and protector, and eventually as a negotiator with the māori . in all these capacities he did most valuable work.