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

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,…