Story: Housing

Settlers' whare

Settlers' whare

Many of the first Europeans who settled in New Zealand lived in Māori-style whare, whose design was sometimes modified to reflect European housing traditions. These whare or huts were built on the Petone foreshore by Māori to house some of the first Pākehā settlers in January 1840. While made from traditional materials such as flax and raupō (reeds), their design resembled a small English cottage, with steeply pitched roofs, side windows and an exterior chimney. 

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-186-050
Pencil drawing by William Swainson

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:

Ben Schrader, 'Housing - The first houses', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/38622/settlers-whare (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Ben Schrader, published 5 Sep 2013