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Story: Auckland region

Māori traders, 1850s Auckland

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Māori traders, 1850s Auckland

This painting by an unknown artist shows Māori traders taking pigs to the Auckland market in the 1850s. Until the 1860s, Māori controlled a high proportion of Auckland trade, and had their own trading fleet. Without their involvement, the emerging town would have struggled to feed itself.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau

Reference: 4-4549

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Margaret McClure, Auckland region – The founding of Auckland: 1840–1869, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/15893/maori-traders-1850s-auckland (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Margaret McClure, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2016.