Story: Taupori Māori – Māori population change

Young Māori

Young Māori

This portrait of an unknown young Māori chief was painted by Sydney Parkinson during James Cook's circumnavigation of New Zealand on his ship the Endeavour in 1769. At this time high birth and death rates among Māori produced a relatively stable, young population.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0037-16
Hand-coloured engraving by Sydney Parkinson

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:

Ian Pool and Tahu Kukutai, 'Taupori Māori – Māori population change - Population changes, 1769–1840', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/27487/young-maori (accessed 1 June 2023)

Story by Ian Pool and Tahu Kukutai, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 27 Sep 2018