Old New Zealand: Being Incidents of Native Customs and Character in the Old Times

"Old New Zealand: Being Incidents of Native Customs and Character in the Old Times" by Frederick Edward Maning is a historical book that looks at Maori life in New Zealand when British settlers began arriving. Written in the 1800s, the book shares stories and observations about Maori ways of life and how they changed when they met the British. The book starts with the narrator thinking back to a time before British rule, remembering his early days in New Zealand. He tells funny and sad stories of his first encounters with the Maori, showing their traditions and how they first saw trade and visitors. These stories help paint a picture of the old ways and the people who shaped New Zealand's past.