Maori word for a white man. Theword is three syllables, with even accent on all. A PakehaMaori is an Englishman who lives as a Maori with the Maoris.Mr. Tregear, in his `Maori Comparative Dictionary,'s.v. Pakepakeha, says: «Mr. John White [author of`Ancient History of the Maoris'] considers that pakeha,a foreigner, an European, originally meant `fairy,' and statesthat on the white men first landing sugar was called`fairy-sand,' etc.» Williams' `Maori Dictionary' (4th edit.)gives, «a foreigner: probably from pakepakeha, imaginarybeings of evil influence, more commonly known as patupaiarehe, said to be like men with fair skins.» Some express this idea by «fairy.» Another explanation is thatthe word is a corruption of the coarse English word, said tohave been described by Dr. Johnson (though not in hisdictionary), as «a term of endearment amongst sailors.» Thefirst a in Pakeha had something of the u sound.The sailors' word would have been introduced to New Zealand bywhalers in the early part of the nineteenth century.
1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand'(Church Missionary Society), p. 187:
«Pakeha, s. an European; a white man.»
1832. A. Earle, `Narrative of Nine Months' Residence in NewZealand,' p. 146:
«The white taboo'd day, when the packeahs (or white men) put onclean clothes and leave off work» [sc. Sunday].
1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' c. i.p. 73:
«We do not want the missionaries from the Bay of Islands,they are pakeha maori, or whites who have become natives.»
1854. W. Golder, `Pigeons' Parliament,' canto iii. p. 44:
«Aiding some vile pakehas
In deeds subversive of the laws.»
1876. F. E. Maning [Title]:
«Old New Zealand, by a Pakeha Maori.»
1884. T. Bracken, `Lays of the Maori,' p. 15:
«Long ere the pale pakeha came to the shrine.»