History of New Zealand and Its Inhabitants: Translated by John Crockett

by Dom Felice Vaggioli

An extraordinary new book reveals sympathy for Maori from an unusual supporter – an Italian priest. The book, History of New Zealand and its Inhabitants , has waited over a century to be translated into English, but sits comfortably alongside the contemporary Maori renaissance and claims to the Waitangi Tribunal. The book was originally published in Italy in 1896. Its author, Dom Felice Vaggioli, was one of the first Benedictine priests to be sent to New Zealand. He worked in Gisborne, Auckland and the Coromandel from 1879 to 1887. While in New Zealand, he gathered information, including first-hand accounts of Treaty of Waitangi signings, and of the Taranaki and Waikato wars. Vaggioli’s writing style is dramatic and racy, and Crockett has retained this in his translation. The book is a terrific read of nineteenth century New Zealand history. Anyone interested in Maori-Pakeha relations or the history of colonization will want to read this remarkable source.

Genres: Nonfiction

340 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

Reviews

[Arna]

I gave this book 4 stars because of the information Vaggioli has in it. However he is very repetitive and very opinionated. Being a catholic he is anti protestant and insists protestants had nothing good to bring to NZ, and I agree many of the original lay missionaries did not live lives worthy of the name of Christ, but he tars all with the same brush. He is also anti British. He sides with the Maori consistently and points out the cruel way their land was taken from them. However because the book is full of factual information I found it enlightening.

[Sylvia Kaa]

Essential reading, history of New Zealand.