An important feature of early contact in New Zealand was the role of intermediaries or kaiwhakarite who acted as go-betweens – people from one culture who lived with the other culture and helped bridge the gap between them.
British troops surrendered to the Japanese at Singapore in February 1942. The loss of Singapore was the largest surrender in British military history and its greatest defeat since it lost its colonies in the American War of Independence.
The Pakeha–Maori Barnet Burns was described as 'a New Zealand Chief' in this advertisement for three lectures he delivered at the Mechanics' Institution in Lincoln, England in 1842.
