I've been reading a fascinating book lately called "Old New Zealand" which I bought online. This one is similar to the other book "
Cannibal Jack" which I posted about here but a different person. Frederick Edward Maning was born around 1811/12 in Ireland before arriving in the Hokianga in 1833. He married into one of the local Maori tribes, acquired land and set up a business as a trader. He fitted easily into the world of Pakeha/Maori (Pakeha meaning white man) and opposed the
Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 because he felt that Maori culture and British institutions could not mix. He also despised the English missionaries who were likely to influence the new Lieutenant Governor William Hobson.
After working in the early timber and gum industry in the 1850s, Maning was in 1865 made a judge of of the newly constituted Native Land Court, a position he held until 1876. Maning became alienated from Maori as he grew older. He didn't appreciate criticism of his judgments and was dismissive of Maori protest movements that developed in the northern region of New Zealand during the 1870s. He is best known today as a well known author and is buried in
Symonds Street Cemetery in Auckland City.
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