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Story: Police

Native constable, 1850

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Native constable, 1850

This uniformed ‘native constable’ in the Armed Police Force is shown playing a nguru (long nose flute). Governor George Grey enrolled Māori into the police partly for their specialist knowledge of tribes (and how to fight them), and partly to bring the two races into closer and more friendly contact.

Using this item

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: Acc No. 12,770

by Cuthbert Charles Clarke

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

Richard S. Hill, Police – The earliest police forces, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/33843/native-constable-1850 (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Richard S. Hill, published 8 June 2012.