Primitive Economics of the New Zealand Maori (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781025929798)

"Primitive Economics of the New Zealand Maori" is a foundational work in the field of economic anthropology, offering an exhaustive analysis of the social and economic structures of the Maori people. This study moves beyond simple observations of trade to explore the intricate relationship between social organization and the material life of a traditional Polynesian society. The work examines key aspects of Maori life, including land tenure, the organization of labor, the systems of gift exchange, and the psychological motivations behind economic activities.

By detailing how cultural values and kinship ties dictate the production and distribution of wealth, the author provides a comprehensive view of how a non-industrial society functions. The text explores the significance of concepts such as mana and tapu in economic transactions and the role of leadership in coordinating large-scale communal efforts. This study remains an essential resource for those interested in the history of New Zealand, indigenous studies, and the evolution of economic thought. Through meticulous research and ethnographic insight, "Primitive Economics of the New Zealand Maori" illuminates the sophisticated complexity of a culture and its unique systems of value and resource management.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

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Author: Raymond William Firth
ISBN-10: 1025929799
ISBN-13: 9781025929798
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Language: English
Published: 02/14/2026
Pages: 578
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.76lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 1.17d