Harry Evison re-examines New Zealand colonial history in the light of a number of original documents, particularly the ten Ngai Tahu deeds by which the Crown acquired Maori title to the southern half of New Zealand from 1844 to 1864. Chapters on Maoro aboriginal title and the impact of the Treaty of Waitagi and the Wakefield scheme, and the Maori policies of Governor Grey, challenge some popular assumptions about New Zealand history.