"Brought up on the old Waipa frontier soon after the close of the wars, when an uneasy peace existed between European and Maori, James Cowan imbibed much ancient lore as well as recent history from old-time Maori chiefs and warriors. When commissioned by the Government to write this history, he not only examined a vast amount of written material - he sought out the remaining veterans of the wars (both European and Maori, women as well as men) and from them learned at first hand much that never appears in official documents; and he tramped many a mile to view the scenes of engagements that he might render a faithful account of what happened"--From book jacket.