The Origins of an Experimental Society: New Zealand 1769-1860.

Abstract

Erik Olssen is a great kaumātua of Pākehā history, and this fascinating book on New Zealand’s first post-contact century sustains his reputation. He describes his approach as ‘a marriage of social and intellectual-cultural history’ (p. 11). It also flirts usefully with several other sub-genres, such as health, religious and demographic history. But there is indeed more focus on ideas than in his previous work. He envisages this volume as the first of three, in which case it will fill the niche of Alan Atkinson’s fine trilogy, The Europeans in Australia. The big difference is that Olssen is able to deal more evenly with indigenous as well as settler history. This book is rich, reflective, humane and benign – arguably too benign towards some of its leading characters, notably Edward Gibbon Wakefield.