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Story: Horses

Māori horses

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Māori horses

By the 1850s horses had been integrated into Māori life in the northern part of New Zealand, as suggested in this 1852 painting by Charles Heaphy. This group is in front of St Paul’s church in Auckland.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

by Charles Heaphy

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Emma Meyer, Horses – Introduction of the horse, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/19262/maori-horses (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Emma Meyer, published 1 March 2009.