Henry Lawson among Maoris

Abstract

Henry Lawson's writings on Australia, town and bush, which helped to create the Australian legends of mateship and toughness are well known. Less is known of his experiences in New Zealand. A story 'A Daughter of Maoriland' is based on his experiences teaching at a school in Mangamaunu on one of his three visits to that country. The story shows a failure in his relations with the Maori community, in particular with one of his pupils - a girl he named August in the story. This book is a study of the reasons for Lawson's failure with the Maoris. The author's research led him into many avenues - Lawson's life and personality, the Australian tradition he represented, the local history of the Maori community, New Zealand policy on Maori education in the 1890s, and the effect which Lawson's experiences in Mangamaunu had on his later writing. Book after book has appeared about Lawson - this is the only one so far to deal specifically with his New Zealand experiences.