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Story: Fishing industry

Fishing scenes at Onehunga

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Fishing scenes at Onehunga

These 1864 sketches by Edward Williams show Māori fishing at Onehunga, Auckland. In one scene Māori men are pictured unloading a canoe and carrying fish, which appear to be snapper, on a pole. Māori were quick to realise that they could trade fish for European goods, and were soon supplying many outposts with the catch of the day, as well as feeding themselves.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-045-001

by Edward Arthur Williams

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Carl Walrond, Fishing industry – A cottage industry, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/6266/fishing-scenes-at-onehunga (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 2 March 2009.