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Story: Non-fiction

Samuel Butler's New Zealand home

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Samuel Butler's New Zealand home

Samuel Butler arrived in New Zealand in 1860, and after exploring parts of Canterbury established a sheep run, Mesopotamia, west of the upper Rangitātā River. The simple huts there were later depicted in this painting by William Packe. Butler's efforts to develop Mesopotamia were described in his vivid account, A first year in Canterbury settlement (1863).

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-196-015

by William Packe

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 – Settlement, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/43295/samuel-butlers-new-zealand-home (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Alex Calder, published 11 November 2013.