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Story: History of immigration

Arrivals and departures

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Arrivals and departures

This lithograph from the 1850s is probably a picture of New Zealand settlers about to return to Britain. They are being farewelled by a gold miner (with pick) and a Māori man. However, it is also possible that this is an arrival scene. Certainly the 1850s and 1860s saw many arrivals and departures from New Zealand. Some 250,000 people came to New Zealand between 1853 and 1870, but around 100,000 disappointed immigrants left.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: E-079-005

by E. Noyce

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

Jock Phillips, History of immigration – Settlement in the provinces: 1853 to 1870, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/2102/arrivals-and-departures (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.