Skip to main content

Kōrero: History of immigration

John Rutherford, the tattooed Englishman

Image
John Rutherford, the tattooed Englishman

A few seamen and escaped convicts lived with Māori as traders and go-betweens. They became known as Pākehā–Māori. One was John Rutherford, shown here in European dress but with a fully tattooed face. The portrait was probably done by George Scharf in England, where Rutherford appeared in sideshows.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-090-028

by George Scharf

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Jock Phillips, History of immigration – Early years, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/artwork/1504/john-rutherford-the-tattooed-englishman (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Jock Phillips, i tāngia i te 4 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.