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Story: Non-fiction

Manners and customs

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Manners and customs

J. S. Polack's two-volume work, Manners and customs of the New Zealanders (1840), gave vivid and sometimes disapproving accounts of his dealings with Māori. The caption for the woodcut on the first volume's title page, 'Departure of warriors on a predatory excursion', sets the tone.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: J. S. Polack, Mannners and customs of the New Zealanders: with notes corroborative of their habits, usages, etc., and remarks to intending emigrants, with numerous cuts drawn on wood. London: James Madden, 1840 (B-K-42)

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

Alex Calder, Non-fiction – Frontier reports, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/43292/manners-and-customs (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Alex Calder, published 11 November 2013.