Early contacts between Māori and Pākehā in Aotearoa/New Zealand
- Date: 7 March
- Time:
12.15pm–1.00pm
- Location:
Te Wehenga and Malaga Pasifika Rooms, Ground Floor, National Library
Isaac Coates's portraits are a window into a world of contact between Māori and Pākehā. They were created at a turning point in Māori-Pākehā relations, marked by the Wairau Affray – a confrontation over land in June 1843 in which at least 26 people died.
Historian Vincent O’Malley surveyed the history of the period leading up to this change in his recent book, The Meeting Place: Maori and Pakeha Encounters, 1642-1840. In this session Vincent, in discussion with Paul Diamond, surveyed this period of early contact between the two races, and the enduring historical lessons.
Vincent O'Malley talks to the audience in Te Wehenga and Malaga Pasifika Rooms.
Vincent and Paul Diamond discuss Isaac Coates' portraits.
The speakers
Dr Vincent O’Malley, Research Director of HistoryWorks and author of The Meeting Place; Paul Diamond, Curator of the exhibition
Part of the Turnbull Gallery exhibition, Head and shoulders: Portraits of Māori by Isaac Coates.
Vincent and Paul in conversation.