Story: Families: a history

Māori and Pākehā families: the Lister family in their garden (2nd of 2)

Māori and Pākehā families: the Lister family in their garden

Thomas Potter Lister, his wife and three children pose in front of their thatch cottage at Camp Waihī, Taranaki, around 1874. The photograph was inscribed by Lister, who identified the children as 'Baby Arthur – 4 months, Mary Cecily – 2 years, Edgar Potter – 7 years'. The Waihī military camp was established in 1866 near what became the rural settlement of Normanby. Little is known about the Listers, but this cottage with its productive vegetable garden was probably similar to many soldiers' homes at that time. While Thomas leans on his hoe and positions himself in the centre of the garden, Mrs Lister is seated in her best clothes with baby Arthur on a high-backed chair brought from the house. This may reflect their different responsibilities for the maintenance of the vegetable garden.

Using this item

Puke Ariki - Taranaki Museum & Library
Reference: PHO2004-185

This item must not be copied or reproduced in any print or electronic media without the prior permission of Puke Ariki Museum and Library. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Ian Pool and Rosemary Du Plessis, 'Families: a history - Colonial families: 1840–1879', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/30195/maori-and-pakeha-families-the-lister-family-in-their-garden (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Ian Pool and Rosemary Du Plessis, published 5 May 2011, updated 1 Jul 2017