Reports of Brunner's endeavours on the West Coast soon spread to Wellington and England. He wrote an account of his journey which was first published by Charles Elliott, the editor of the local newspaper the "Nelson Examiner", and later, in 1850, in the "Journal of the Royal Geographical Society". The Royal Geographical Society also awarded him their Patron's Medal and appointed him a Fellow of the Society. His exploits were also recognised in France, the Société de Géographie (French Geographic Society) awarding him a diploma in 1852.