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Kōrero: North Americans

Mark Twain in Dunedin, 1895

Mark Twain in Dunedin, 1895

One of the best-known Americans to visit New Zealand in the 19th century was writer Mark Twain. This cartoon of him speaking to a Dunedin audience was drawn by artist William Mathew Hodgkins. Twain later recounted his impressions of New Zealand in a book, Following the equator, published in 1897.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, Field-Hodgkins Collection

Reference: A-212-024

by William Mathew Hodgkins

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

Nancy Swarbrick, North Americans – 1870s–1939: rivalry and curiosity, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/artwork/4270/mark-twain-in-dunedin-1895 (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Nancy Swarbrick, i tāngia i te 4 March 2009, updated 1 August 2024.

Comments

Neil Harnisch
16 March 2013
In his book "Following the Equator" Twain was in Auckland from 20-26 November 1895. If you enquire at www.marktwainproject.org you will see item UCCL 13478 notes a letter to Susannah Wildman dated 25 November 1895. I believe the ship Twain and family took from Nelson to Auckland via New Plymouth was the Mahinapua arriving on the 20th. The Clemenses stayed at the Star Hotel.

16 July 2010
According to the Southland News Mark Twain arrived at Bluff from Australia on the Mararoa on 6 November 1895.
DON TAYLOR
12 July 2010
I have a signed and inscribed work of Tom Sawyer 1893 edition "To Miss Susannah Wildman with the comliments of Mark Twain Nov.25/95 Auckland" Do you know the name of the ship he was on?