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Story: Māori–Pākehā relations

Phillip Tapsell, whaler

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Phillip Tapsell, whaler

Phillip Tapsell, originally from Denmark, was one of many New Zealand whalers who married Māori women. Here he poses with his daughter Kataraina around 1870. Her mother was Hine-e-turama Ngatiki, a high-born Te Arawa woman and Tapsell's third wife. They lived at Maketū in Bay of Plenty, where they owned a large trading station.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Steffano Webb Collection (PAColl-3061)

Reference: 1/1-008958-G

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

Mark Derby, Māori–Pākehā relations – Whaling stations – first contact, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/28552/phillip-tapsell-whaler (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 22 March 2011.