Story: Rural language

A futtah on a sheep station

A futtah on a sheep station

A futtah or whata (raised storehouse) stands between the homestead (right) and another dwelling on Mesopotamia Station in South Canterbury in 1871. Māori used whata to protect food from rodents. European settlers followed their example, and adopted their word, spelling it as futtah.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Making New Zealand Centennial Collection (PAColl-3060)
Reference: MNZ-0386-1/4; F

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:

Dianne Bardsley, 'Rural language - Māori influences', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/18588/a-futtah-on-a-sheep-station (accessed 26 April 2024)

Story by Dianne Bardsley, published 24 Nov 2008