‘At Parika we received the welcome of strangers in a bountiful supply of fern-root, preserved wekas and fish,’ wrote Thomas Brunner in 1847.
When Thomas Brunner recorded this moment of generosity on the West Coast, he was encountering a way of life shaped over generations – sustained by seasonal rhythms, mahinga kai and deep networks of exchange. The Welcome of Strangers is an authoritative account of that world: the history of southern Māori, told by distinguished archaeologist Atholl Anderson. This updated edition brings together new research, detailed maps and a compelling visual narrative to illuminate a layered and enduring history.
Watch Atholl Anderson (author) introduce The Welcome of Strangers in the trailer below