Tears of Rangi: Experiments Across Worlds

by Anne Salmond

Six centuries ago Polynesian explorers, who inhabited a cosmos in which islands sailed across the sea and stars across the sky, arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand where they rapidly adapted to new plants, animals, landscapes and climatic conditions. Four centuries later, European explorers arrived with maps and clocks, grids and fences, and they too adapted to a new island home. In this, her most ambitious book to date, Dame Anne Salmond looks at New Zealand as a site of cosmo-diversity, a place where multiple worlds engage and collide.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

512 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2017

About the author

Dame Mary Anne Salmond DBE (née Thorpe, born 16 November 1945) is a New Zealand anthropologist, environmentalist and writer.

Reviews

[Jon Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

phew, I have finally finished this behemoth of a book - a journey that has been as enlightening as it has been protracted.
"Tears of Rangi" discusses the meeting of two worlds - Te Ao Maori and Te Ao Pakeha. these two worldviews sit uneasily side by side in New Zealand , but Salmond deftly describes ways in which the two can intertwine, arguing that that is what the original signees of te tiriti had in mind.

Despite the century of wrongdoings and Injustice, much of which is deftly covered here , she highlights the positive strides that have been made in recent years , and discusses similarities between Maori world view and advances in science.

I recommend having this book by your bedside - it will take a while to get through , but it offers a history , philosophy and cultural lesson that many New Zealanders would benefit from.

[Robbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book. Meticulously researched with copious notes in the back for further research. I found Part 1 to be the best, this spanned the era 1780's to 1840. Part 2 was a little bit of history with most of the discussion around events of today relating to the Maori. Overall I found there to be a negative bias about events relating to Christianity & wished Anne had spent a bit more time researching events pertaining to the Bible. Overall a great read. I'd like to give it 4.5 stars, but since I can't do half stars I'll have to stick with 4.

[Christine Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

On finishing TEARS OF RANGI, by Dame Anne Salmond, I feel quite transformed in my understanding of what it is to be a New Zealander.
The book follows the first interactions between Maori and Europeans, then on to specific political and historical events in New Zealand, many of which I vividly remember on the news as I grew up.
The book's descriptions and references are so comprehensive that I felt I'd been transported in time to watch history unfold before my eyes.
What a truly precious work for Maori and Pakeha, which cannot be read by either without expanding one's insight and compassion to the other.
I encourage all of you who call Aotearoa New Zealand their home to read it.
Nga mihi nui.

[Dan McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great in depth look at the interactions between the Maori and English settlers from an anthropologic and cultural perspective. This book is dense with information.

I wish I had read a more historic "introduction" book before this one as I feel like I was unfamiliar with much of the geography, terms, and history since I'm not from New Zealand. Having Google maps and Wikipedia open did help me get through!

[David Trubridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is history without the imperialism, told in a way that balances very different world views equally. It also shows us the way forward away from the self centered and destructive western way.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good historical account of how different Maori beliefs were from the British colonists and how their beliefs gradually merged but are different at the same time.

[Hayden Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on the ontological coming together of two cultures that intra twines a pertinent history of NZ

[Sylvia Kaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential. New Zealand history.

[Stuart Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

History AND Anthropology
This is an enormously important book for anyone wishing to understand the dynamics of the meetings between Europeans and Māori. Especially so for those pākehā NZers such as myself who grew up in the '50s and '60s imbued with the colonising narrative of enlightened Europeans bring 'light' to the 'dark' and 'savage' races of the earth. It is a brighter light that shines from this text bringing - one would hope - a greater realisation of the impact such dominating narratives have on all New Zealanders.

[Patty Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful read - a must read for all New Zealanders. Just finished it and ready to read again