Story: Te mahi kai – food production economics

Fishing, Tōtaranui

This picture shows Māori at Tōtaranui (Queen Charlotte Sound), around 1788. Some have been out fishing – one person is stringing fish together, and another is carrying a string of fish. Fishing activities were often large scale. Large numbers of people were required to make nets and then catch thousands of fish.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-098-015

by John Webber

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

Manuka Henare, Te mahi kai – food production economics – Location and scale of activities, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/20287/fishing-totaranui (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Manuka Henare, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Vilma
25 March 2012

I am glad I stumbled upon this resource, an easy to read snapshot of parts of our Maori history covering a wide range of customs and traditions. My tama will also find this a useful resource for kura. thank you.