Hans Homman Felk, known as Philip Tapsell, was a Danish sailor who sailed English ships (mostly whaling ships) for 35 years and was a trader at Maketu, Matata and Whakatane for 40 years. He first landed in New Zealand in 1809, arriving in Maketu in 1830. His marriage in 1823 was the first registered marriage in New Zealand. He would marry three times, all his wives being Maori, two from Ngapuhi and the third from Te Arawa. Tapsell died in 1873 aged 94 and his descendants are known as Whanau-a-Tapihana. This is a fantastic account of his life. ( )