Tangata Whenua: The world of the Māori
Don Stafford was a local to Rotorua and a historian to the
city and he presents an authoritative but easily understood account of the
history of the New Zealand Māori.
A broad diversity of topics is examined with information
drawn from tradition, myth and history.
He starts with the migrations of the Polynesian people and
moves to the story of Kupe. The communal living of Māori in iwi and hapū is explained
through protocol, custom, connection to the land and connection to each other.
He includes the legend of a well-known love story between
Hinemoa, a beautiful chieftainess who lived at Ōwhata and Tūtānekai a handsome young chief
who lived on Mokoia Island in the middle of Lake Rotorua.
He showcases carvers, weavers and includes artwork by
Gottfried Lindauer and Charles F. Goldie. Throughout, the author presents both
traditional illustration and contemporary photographs that successfully support
the text.
For Māori and non-Māori this is worth reading and for
those local to Rotorua, there may be someone that you recognise within these
pages.
You can find this book in the Māori non-fiction section at
305.8994 STA
Review by Ani Sharland. Heritage
and Research Team Leader
