I'm not entirely sure where the state of research into this matter is, I know it has been subject of a number of projects over the years, but I believe a book should be written on New Zealand's relationship to the American Civil War (if it has not been written already). As I understand it, there was something of a panic that, implausibly, the naval component of that war would spill so far as to see commerce raiding of New Zealand shipping interests. Further, I believe I've read that both Confederate and Union veterans retired to New Zealand over the ensuing decades. Even given there has been some research on the topic, it'd be a fascinating project alongside other research into slave economics and New Zealand (not to mention the role of many New Zealanders in the terrible Blackbirding expeditions of the era).
I'm not entirely sure where the state of research into this matter is, I know it has been subject of a number of projects over the years, but I believe a book should be written on New Zealand's relationship to the American Civil War (if it has not been written already). As I understand it, there was something of a panic that, implausibly, the naval component of that war would spill so far as to see commerce raiding of New Zealand shipping interests. Further, I believe I've read that both Confederate and Union veterans retired to New Zealand over the ensuing decades. Even given there has been some research on the topic, it'd be a fascinating project alongside other research into slave economics and New Zealand (not to mention the role of many New Zealanders in the terrible Blackbirding expeditions of the era).