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Outcast: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Etienne Jean Brocher
Soldier, Bigamist, Family man, Fraudster.
Etienne Jean Brocher led an extraordinary life in 19th-century France, North Africa and New Zealand. Along the way he collected aliases, prison sentences, and enemies as he slipped from town to town, escaping debts and family duties. Ultimately, he faced the gallows in a double-murder trial that rocked New Zealand’s ‘dream society’.
Now his astonishing story – untold in book form – is revealed. Drawing on French military archives, family records, and newspaper reports from across colonial New Zealand, as well as Brocher’s own handwritten account, this absorbing biography untangles the complex trails Brocher left behind him in colonial towns and in the public imagination.
While he explores the complexities of Brocher’s character – including his shortcomings – Brian Stoddart lays bare the class prejudice and xenophobia that Brocher faced as an immigrant of ‘the wrong sort’ and raises serious questions over whether he received a fair trial.
Dynamic and often surprising in its humour, this stunning biography makes a vital contribution to our understanding of how colonial New Zealand shaped its ideal society and what could happen when ‘outsiders’ didn’t fit the mould.
Etienne Jean Brocher led an extraordinary life in 19th-century France, North Africa and New Zealand. Along the way he collected aliases, prison sentences, and enemies as he slipped from town to town, escaping debts and family duties. Ultimately, he faced the gallows in a double-murder trial that rocked New Zealand’s ‘dream society’.
Now his astonishing story – untold in book form – is revealed. Drawing on French military archives, family records, and newspaper reports from across colonial New Zealand, as well as Brocher’s own handwritten account, this absorbing biography untangles the complex trails Brocher left behind him in colonial towns and in the public imagination.
While he explores the complexities of Brocher’s character – including his shortcomings – Brian Stoddart lays bare the class prejudice and xenophobia that Brocher faced as an immigrant of ‘the wrong sort’ and raises serious questions over whether he received a fair trial.
Dynamic and often surprising in its humour, this stunning biography makes a vital contribution to our understanding of how colonial New Zealand shaped its ideal society and what could happen when ‘outsiders’ didn’t fit the mould.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2026
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January 14, 2026
This is a 19th century true crime whodunnit that happened in New Zealand.
Etienne Brocher had initially spent time in Akaroa but left under a cloud & ended up in North Africa as a soldier but spent most of the time in military prisons. Unable to return to France as he really wished, he ended up back in NZ, this time in Petone, Wellington.
He married there for the second time with his first wife still alive in Akaroa thus becoming a bigamist.
He ran into trouble there, going from being a witness in a double murder to being the prime suspect. His changing story & character flaws helping contribute. He was hanged even though the evidence didn’t really 100% put him there.
A fascinating well written read & insight into some of the early immigrants who made NZ home & helped shape its future, good & bad.
Etienne Brocher had initially spent time in Akaroa but left under a cloud & ended up in North Africa as a soldier but spent most of the time in military prisons. Unable to return to France as he really wished, he ended up back in NZ, this time in Petone, Wellington.
He married there for the second time with his first wife still alive in Akaroa thus becoming a bigamist.
He ran into trouble there, going from being a witness in a double murder to being the prime suspect. His changing story & character flaws helping contribute. He was hanged even though the evidence didn’t really 100% put him there.
A fascinating well written read & insight into some of the early immigrants who made NZ home & helped shape its future, good & bad.
Displaying 1 of 1 review