IDNO

P.85368.

Description

Postcard of a watercolour of a Maori waka (war canoe) race in Auckland harbour, with a second canoe in the distance. [JD 12/3/2010, updated JD 6/8/2016]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; New Zealand [Aotearoa]

Cultural Affliation

Maori

Named Person

Photographer

Robley, Horatio Gordon [Artist]

Collector / Expedition

Date

December 1865

Collection Name

Source

Format

Postcard Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.85348 to P.85372 were found inside envelope now numbered C414/18/ which came from the box formerly numbered 162, now re-numbered C414/.

Place: The Place field was previously recorded as being “?Asia”, but the image shows a New Zealand Maori war canoe. The Place field has been amended accordingly. [JD 12/3/2010]

Related Image: A painting of the same series is held at the National Library of Australia, reference nla.pic-an10546174-s44, with the following inscription:
"Maori war canoes coming across Jamayan? harbour, New Zealand, for entertainment at the Military camp, Christmas 1865". [Source: www.nla.gov.au, JD 6/8/2016]
A second watercolour of the same series, nla.pic-an10546174-22, is published on Te Ara with the following caption:
"This watercolour by Horatio Robley was probably based on a sketch by Major Frederick Rice Stack depicting the Auckland Anniversary Day regatta, on Auckland Harbour in 1862. It shows both Māori and Pākehā watching the races, which at that time were important parts of the regatta." [Source: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/39392/maori-war-canoes-racing, JD 6/8/2016]
A third painting of the same scene is held at Tauranga Library, reference Robley 1865 05-294, is captioned: "Canoe (waka) race on Tauranga Harbour, 29 December 1865.  From a watercolour by Horatio Gordon Robley.  Notes: "At the games held in camp at Te Papa on the 29th December, 1865, a programme of seventeen events was set down and created a great deal of interest among the five or six hundred spectators.... At four o'clock five swift war canoes competed for prizes.  These vessels were indeed beautiful objects with their elegantly carved heads and stern pieces, the kaituki standing amid-ships or perhaps at the bow, and by song and action, and flourish of spear giving time to the paddlers, the steersman directing the course by means of his powerful urunga or steering paddle.... Two of the canoes belonged to Otumoetai, two to Matapihi, and the remaining one to Maungatapu.... In the race the canoe of Hori Tupaea of Otumoetai was a foot or so in the lead, and by a superhuman effort increased the advantage and won...." (Fildes, 1921, quoted in Timothy Walker's thesis, Te Ropere, v 2 p222).  "The first canoe is that of the 'Ngati hine tapu' hapu of Otumoetai, the three fuglemen being Raniera Te Hia Hia, Hamiora Tu and Hohepa Hikutaia Te Mea. " (Adams, quoted as above)." [Source: http://tauranga.kete.net.nz, JD 6/8/2016]