Two Worlds: First Meetings Between Maori and Europeans, 1642–1772

Anne Salmond's Two Worlds: First Meetings Between Maori and Europeans, 1642–1772 examines the initial interactions between Māori and Europeans. It challenges the notion of indigenous peoples as passive recipients of colonialism, instead portraying Māori as active participants in a process of mutual discovery. The book details these encounters, including those during Captain James Cook's voyages, and highlights the significant influence Māori had on European crews. This period marked the beginning of profound cultural exchanges and transformations for Māori society, influenced by the introduction of new technologies, diseases, and ideas by Europeans.123