Joel Samuel Polack

Joel Samuel Polack (28 March 1807 – 17 April 1882) was an English-born New Zealand and American businessman and writer.

Polack worked for the War Office (Commissariat and Ordnance) for four years, serving in South Africa and in Mauritius, before leaving to travel in America.

[2] In 1831 he arrived in New Zealand and settled in the Hokianga, exploring the surrounding area as well as Poverty Bay and the East Cape.

He moved to Auckland (the new capital) where he operated a bonded warehouse and branched out into shipping, profiting from trade with California.

He settled in San Francisco, where he married Mary, the widow of William Hart (who had both lived in New Zealand).