Story: Ethnic inequalities

Rural Māori

Rural Māori

In the early 20th century most Māori lived in rural areas. This makes it difficult to compare their standard of living with Pākehā, who were either urban dwellers or commercial farmers. As in this photograph, probably taken on the East Coast of the North Island about 1900, most Māori belonged to interdependent family groups who worked together on subsistence holdings, and shared food and lodging. They largely existed outside the formal labour market.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/1-003133

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:

David Pearson, 'Ethnic inequalities - European majority, Māori minority: 1840–1945', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/29529/rural-maori (accessed 6 May 2024)

Story by David Pearson, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 21 May 2018