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Story: Camping

Settler's tent, 1841

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Settler's tent, 1841

This comfortable-looking V-shaped tent, which was probably pitched on the Auckland waterfront, was home to a family of settlers in 1841. In this early colonial period tents were widely used, not for recreation but by residents who could find no better accommodation.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

Reference: 1937/12/2

by Robert Porter

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

Mark Derby, Camping – Early New Zealand campers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/39180/settlers-tent-1841 (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 30 November 2012.