Transgressing Tikanga: Captured by Mori: First-hand accounts 1816-1884

(Paperback)

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Transgressing Tikanga is a collection of 20 first-hand accounts written by Europeans who were captured by Maori between 1816 and 1884. These Pakeha men and women were seized when they either committed blatant acts of aggression or unknowingly transgressed tikanga Maori (customary law), for which utu was required. These captivity narratives are packed with drama and action, and are not always easy reading, but they create a vivid picture of nineteenth-century interactions between Maori and Pakeha. They provide a rich insight into early Maori life, including the principals of captivity and utu, social order, religious practices, everyday customs, and the conduct of warfare. With notes that give detailed historical context, Transgressing Tikanga makes an important contribution to understanding the cross-cultural tensions from which contemporary New Zealand society has emerged.

Author Bio

Trevor Bentley holds a PhD in history from the University of Waikato and has a special interest in researching, writing and teaching about the interaction of Maori and Pakeha in pre-Treaty New Zealand. His primary focus are the Pakeha who entered Maori tribal societies voluntarily and as captives. Transgressing Tikanga is Bentley's fifth book to explore this subject. A full-time researcher and writer, he lives in Tauranga with his wife, Helen.