He fought against the convict system with Molesworth and Rentoul of the _Spectator_.

He went to Canada as Lord Durham's secretary and adviser.
He was actively concerned in the foundation of South Australia, where his system of high prices for land helped to bring about one of the maddest little land "booms" in colonial history.

And as these things were not enough to occupy that daring, original, and indefatigable spirit, he threw himself into the colonization of New Zealand.

He and his brother, Colonel Wakefield, became the brain and hand of the New Zealand colonizers.
For years they battled against their persistent opponents the Church Missionary Society and the officials of the Colonial Office.

The former, who hit very hard at them in controversy, managed Lord Glenelg, then Colonial Secretary; the latter turned Minister after Minister from friends of the colonizers into enemies.