Early Maritime Tauranga | Trevor Bentley

Some of the most interesting and important events in Tauranga's history took place before it's occupation by British and colonial forces, and the battles of Gate Pa and Te Ranga in 1864.  In this book, historian Trevor Bentley brings Tauranga's colourful and dramatic pre-colonial maritime history to light.

It is a fascinating history of daring Polynesian migrant-settlers and resident iwi, who, for hundreds of years, plied the harbour waters and seas of Tauranga Moana in a variety of waka.  It is also the story of visiting European explorers, whaling skippers, pirates, sea-traders, hydrographers, shipwreck survivors, fugitive convicts and sailors.

Describing Tauranga's seas, seagoing vessels and seafarers, it reveals the sailing skills, arrival and impacts of invading tribal waka fleets, whaler-musket trading vessels, missionaries, flax traders, colonial officers and boat builders.  It details the enterprise of local hapu during Tauranga's shipbuilding and Auckland's provisions booms, and the courage and seamanship of the captains and crews of Tauranga's early trading fleets.

Trevor Bentley researches, writes and teaches about 19th century New Zealand social, maritime and military history.  His primary focus is the Pakeha who entered Maori tribal societies as voluntary and involuntary culture-crossers.  Dr Bentley has authored eight books set in this era.  A long-term member of the New Zealand Military Historical Society, he lives in Tauranga with his wife Helen.