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Story: Rural mythologies

Rough Rider

Image
Rough Rider

This painting of a New Zealand trooper in the South African War was typical of the way New Zealand soldiers were portrayed at the time. It captures the belief that New Zealand soldiers, popularly known as Rough Riders, were successful in the war because they had grown up on farms and learned to ride as children.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-256-002

by G. Montbard

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Rural mythologies – The cult of the pioneer, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/20320/rough-rider (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 1 March 2009.