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Story: Shipping

Ships off Kororāreka

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Ships off Kororāreka

In the early 1800s whale ships from Britain, the United States and a host of other nations crowded New Zealand waters, drawn by firewood, water, provisions and Māori prostitutes. American flags predominate in Louis Le Breton’s depiction of Kororāreka (modern-day Russell) in 1840.

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Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

by Louis Le Breton

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Gavin McLean, Shipping – The era of sail, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/5667/ships-off-kororareka (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Gavin McLean, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 January 2016.