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Story: Anthropology and archaeology

Bruce Biggs in Papua New Guinea, around 1960

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Bruce Biggs in Papua New Guinea, around 1960

Anthropologist Bruce Biggs collects linguistic information in conversation with children of Yaramanda Village in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea, around 1960. Biggs and fellow University of Auckland anthropologist Ralph Bulmer worked with the Kyaka-Enga-speaking people of Yaramanda and the Kalam-speaking people of Schrader Range. Biggs, of Ngāti Maniapoto descent, went on to carry out and supervise major linguistic studies of Māori and other Polynesian languages.

Using this item

The University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services, Anthropology Photographic Archive

Reference: 21471

by Ralph Bulmer

Permission of the Library, University of Auckland, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Peter Clayworth, Anthropology and archaeology – Expanding worlds, 1960s to 2000s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/44423/bruce-biggs-in-papua-new-guinea-around-1960 (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 7 March 2014.