Old New Zealand. A Tale of the good old times
Auckland: Robert J. Creighton and Alfred Scales, 1863. 1st edition, 8vo, rebound in quarter leather with raised bands and gilt decoration to spine, pp xiv 239. Library inscription to title page 'Mount Korong Miner's Literary Institute', dated 1865, very good condn.
"A Pakeha Maori" was the pseudonym for Frederick Edward Maning (1811-1883), a notable early settler in New Zealand and a judge of the Native Land Court. The book describes the author's first views of New Zealand and his encounters with the Maori people. Maning, who at thirteen, emigrated to Van Diemen's Land with his family, moving to Hobart in 1829. It is quite likely that Maning participated in the infamous Black Line and at least witnessed aspects of the Black War. He reportedly did not speak of this period much in his later life. It is possible that these incidents may have contributed to his decision to leave Hobart. By 1832, Frederick had left home to manage a remote outpost in the north of Tasmania. Soon after, Frederick decided to pursue his fortune in New Zealand. Maning arrived in the Hokianga area at age 22, on 30 June 1833, and lived among the Nga Puhi Maori. With Maning's physical skills and great stature, as well as his considerable good humour, he quickly gained favour with the tribe. He became known as a Pakeha Maori (a European turned native) and his arrival in New Zealand is the subject of the first chapters of his book Old New Zealand.In 1840, Maning acted as a translator at meetings about the Treaty of Waitangi, and he advised the local Maori to not sign. His vocal opposition to the Treaty was primarily because he had settled with the Maori precisely to escape from the restrictions of European civilization. He feared that the introduction of European style law would put a damper on his lifestyle and on his entrepreneurial trading activities. He warned the Maori that European colonization would degrade them. Governor William Hobson countered by telling the Maori that without British Law, lawless self-interested Europeans without any regard for Maori rights would soon take all their land. Maning's book Old New Zealand is, in part, a lament for the lost freedom enjoyed before European rule. In 1845-1846, during the Maori Wars, he sometimes used his influence with the Maori to intercede on behalf of settlers. He also organized supplies to the government's Maori supporters. However, he wrote his second book, A history of the war in the north of New Zealand against the chief Heke from the perspective of an imaginary supporter of Hone Heke, who was one of the principal antagonists opposing the government. Maning may even have actually fought with Hone Heke against one of Tamati Waka Nene's allies, the Hokianga chief, Makoare Te Taonui in the The Battle of Te Ahu Ahu. But this seems unlikely as he was known to have sided with the government and Waka Nene by the end of the war. Item #91272
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