William Puckey senior had been a boatbuilder, mariner and carpenter in Cornwall, and probably made a significant contribution to the establishment of these skills in New Zealand, as a sawyer, carpenter, and boat builder, being involved in the selection of timbers, sawing of planks, and making of joinery for the Kemp House, and the building of the 55 foot schooner for the CMS mission. William Puckey junior helped build, then served as the mate of the "Herald"; until the ship was wrecked in 1828 while trying to enter Hokianga Harbour.