Maori Life in Taranaki
by John Houston
Reed Books, 2006, softcover, 239pp

The most authoritative account of Maori customary practices and history of the region, Maori Life in Taranaki contains more than 30 chapters of material which ranges over topics such as migratory canoe stories, the origins of place names, proverbs and sayings, karakia and waiata ( prayer and song), Hauhauism and traditional lore, as well as indepth coverage of the armed conflict that rent Taranaki asunder during the 19th century.

John Houston was a lawyer, horticulturalist, historian and devoted student of Maori life, who wrote for more than 30 years on many aspects of Maori history.  He died in 1962, shortly before the first edition of this ground-breaking book was published.  Houston's insightful and lively commentary on traditional Maori culture and the interaction with Pakeha ( white people) of Taranaki until the turn of the 20th century is now available for a new generation.

Note from Lesley: This is a fascinating read, hard to put down, but also able to be read in bite-sized pieces.  I particularly enjoyed the account of the migration from Hawaiiki.