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Story: Taranaki tribe

‘Mr Spain investigates land claims at New Plymouth, Mt Eliot, June 1844’

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‘Mr Spain investigates land claims at New Plymouth, Mt
    Eliot, June 1844’

Commissioner William Spain was sent to Taranaki in 1844 to investigate the validity of land purchases from Māori by private companies. This sketch by Edwin Harris shows Māori participating in a meeting at Puke Ariki in New Plymouth.

Using this item

Puke Ariki - Taranaki Museum & Library

Reference: 75-441-A

by Edward Harris

This item must not be copied or reproduced in any print or electronic media without the prior permission of Puke Ariki Museum and Library. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Te Miringa Hōhaia, Taranaki tribe – European arrival, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/1872/mr-spain-investigates-land-claims-at-new-plymouth-mt-eliot-june-1844 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Te Miringa Hōhaia, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.