John Guard (c. 1791/92 – 1857) was an English convict sent to Australia who was one of the first European settlers in the South Island of New Zealand, working as a whaler and trader.

[4] (previous whaling stations having been seasonal) Guard's wife Elizabeth or Betty (née Parker, 1814–1870)[5] whom he married in Sydney in 1830,[4] was the first European woman to settle in the South Island.

He used the ship to transport flax, whale oil and seal skins to Sydney three times per year, returning with supplies and trade goods.

Sir Richard Bourke, the governor of New South Wales, dispatched HMS Alligator to Taranaki with a group of 60 British soldiers from the 50th Regiment of Foot onboard.

They landed a small party on the coast and attempted negotiations with the Māori captors to recover the eight remaining crew (along with Guard's wife and two children, John and Louisa) but were chased away.

Together with the merchant schooner Isabella, the warship eventually returned to the Taranaki coast and landed a detachment of sailors and marines.

He made a speech to the Māori captors and immediately Mrs Guard and her baby daughter were taken to the Alligator by waka but the boy was still held prisoner.

The captain of the Alligator then ordered a bombardment of the pa that lasted three hours, during which the Māori hostage takers raised and then lowered a white flag several times.