 In February 1846 , Brunner and Kehu , accompanied by Charles Heaphy and William Fox , undertook an expedition southwest of Nelson . Fox was the resident agent for the New Zealand Company in Nelson and provided the equipment and provisions for the party in addition to paying a salary to Brunner and Heaphy . Land in Nelson for farming was still scarce but it was hoped that beyond the steep hills to the southwest , good pastoral land would be found . Difficult terrain faced them ; high mountain ranges topped with snow and ice , steep bush , numerous rivers and gorges . Food sources included roots and berries ; birds could be snared and eels caught from streams . Along the coast , shellfish and gull eggs added to the diet . 
