Old New Zealand Being Incidents Of Native Customs And Character In The Old Times
By:Frederick Edward Maning Published By:Double9 Books
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Old New Zealand Being Incidents Of Native Customs And Character In The Old Times
About the Book
Old New Zealand: Being incidents of native customs and character in the old times offers a personal account of early life among the Maori by a European settler who lived as one of them. The narrator reflects on the so-called good old times before European influence, portraying a world rich in unique customs, complex social dynamics, and deeply rooted traditions. The opening section introduces this reflective mood, capturing the narrator’s nostalgia and skepticism toward what he calls civilization. His early interactions with the Maori are framed by curiosity and contradiction, revealing both admiration and occasional frustration. His anecdotes span from ceremonial exchanges and social rituals to misunderstandings shaped by language and trade. Through this lens, the book examines the shifts in identity and culture brought on by European arrival, preserving a voice from a transitional moment in New Zealand’s past. The narrative combines wit, cultural detail, and personal insight to document a vanished way of life with equal parts reverence and critique.
Frederick Edward Maning was born on July 5, 1812, in Johnville, County Dublin, Ireland, to parents Frederick Maning and Mary Barrett Maning. He immigrated to Australia with his family during his youth and eventually settled in New Zealand in the 1830s. Fascinated by Māori culture, he integrated into their communities and became known for his deep understanding of Māori language and customs. Adopting the pseudonym “A Pakeha Maori,” he authored two significant books that offered vivid personal accounts of early colonial life. These works combined wit, insight, and first-hand observation, becoming essential documents of early history. Maning played an important role during the New Zealand Wars and later served as a judge in the Native Land Court, where his knowledge of both Māori and European worlds informed his work. Despite deteriorating health, he traveled to London for medical treatment, where he died on July 25, 1883, at the age of 71. His legacy endures as a key figure in early New Zealand literature and cross-cultural engagement.
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