Story: European ideas about Māori

New Zealand warrior (1st of 2)

New Zealand warrior

This engraving of a Māori warrior is a copy of a drawing by Sydney Parkinson, the artist on James Cook’s Endeavour. The strong physique of the man is consistent with Cook's judgements about Māori, and the fact that he is confidently holding a tewhatewha (a long-handled weapon) and a mere (club) reflects Cook's view that Māori were a 'brave, war-like people'.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0037-15
Hand-coloured engraving after a drawing 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:

James Belich, 'European ideas about Māori - Explorers and Māori to 1800', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/29869/new-zealand-warrior (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by James Belich, published 5 May 2011