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Story: Economic history

Māori trading

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Māori trading

John Gilfillan’s drawing shows Māori trading pumpkin and potatoes in return for tobacco, about 1845. The arrival of Europeans opened up new economic opportunities for Māori which they were quick to exploit. In the first half of the 19th century Māori provided much food both for new settlers, and for export to Australia.

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Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: 7,450

by John Gilfillan

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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How to cite this page

Brian Easton, Economic history – Phases of economic development, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/24312/maori-trading (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Brian Easton, published 12 April 2010.