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Story: Canoe traditions

Stephenson Percy Smith

Image
Stephenson Percy Smith

The theory of the Great Fleet was put forward by Stephenson Percy Smith, a founder of the Polynesian Society, who worked with the Māori scholar Hoani Te Whatahoro Jury. This portrait was painted by Harry Fookes in 1917.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: G-487

by Harry Fookes

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

Rāwiri Taonui, Canoe traditions – The meaning of canoe traditions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/2296/stephenson-percy-smith (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009.